600 million students 1 billion are not used – VG

The Ministry of Education and Research also does not promise that NOK 600 million, which is not used, will benefit students later on.

– No, we cannot promise that now, but we follow the development, says the Minister of Research and Higher Education, Henrik Asheim (H) to VG.

Now both students and the opposition are reacting to the Storting, which worked to support students in the event of a crisis. Representatives of the student unions believe that the government cannot withdraw the unused money.

The distribution of support meant that students had to apply for an additional loan of NOK 18,000 to receive a scholarship of NOK 8,000.

– This has probably led many students not to apply, because they did not want to increase the burden of their loans, says the student and vice president of the Parliament of Welfare for students in Gjøvik, Ålesund and Trondheim, Simen Oftedahl to VG.

For some students, the scheme has probably also been unfamiliar, he adds.

In the agreement of the support of the Ministry of Education and Lånekassen, the money was offered as a combination of an additional loan and a scholarship.

In the scheme that students could apply for, the sum was NOK 26,000 in loans, of which NOK 8,000 are converted into scholarships.

Therefore, most of the support is provided in the form of loans, more precisely NOK 800 million, while NOK 400 million have been paid as scholarships from the so-called Student Billion, as shown by figures from the Government Loan Fund.

Ap-Nina dissatisfied

– This only shows what we have pointed out all the way: that students who are already in the red due to loss of income, will not apply plus loans, Labor Party spokeswoman for research and higher education Nina Sandberg tells VG.

She believes that the support scheme was not accurate enough.

– Yes, but we agreed to give it as student support where students who were particularly affected by the loss of income in the crown crisis received quick financial aid. Sandberg responds that it was a prerequisite that such support be based on scholarships.

She believes that the gap between the paid scholarship of 400 million and the 1 billion students indicates that the ministry has not met the group of students who most need the support.

Student Leader: – Kjipt

47,186 students applied for the additional loan, out of more than 230,000 students. In total, around NOK 1.2 billion have been paid, of which NOK 400 billion are from the 1 billion students.

The leader of the Norwegian Student Organization, Andreas Trohjell, believes it is “uncomfortable” on the part of students that NOK 600 million have not been used.

– We wanted to ensure income for those who lost income during the crown crisis.

– How to use the remaining 600 million kronor to meet the students most in need of support?

– They must be plans that cover the loss of income due to the loss of summer jobs and part-time jobs, subject to availability. The scheme should affect those students who have lost income and base their finances on income from work, responds the student leader.

Kamilla M. Mogstad, a student and board member at the University of Southeast Norway, is also disappointed.

– Here, the Ministry of Education must support the fact that these billion will be spent on students. The funds should be linked less to increased loans, so that the plan is better suited to students who are having more financial difficulties. There are many indications that we are now in the second wave of the corona pandemic as well, so this money will be needed, Mogstad tells VG.

Research and Higher Education Minister Henrik Asheim writes in his response to Storting representative Nina Sandberg that so few applied for the loan and scholarship program that it could mean that many students managed financially despite the crisis.

“There was also not a large increase in the number of applicants after the supplemental loan application deadline was extended from June 15-30,” Asheim writes.

Asheim promises nothing more

When asked by VG if the remaining 600 million kronor will be spent on students who have lost income, Asheim responds:

– No, we cannot promise that now, but we are following the evolution. The Storting provided 1 billion in grants for a crisis plan in the Loan Fund to help support student finances. As it is now, most of the students have a decent economy. We must also weigh the use of this money against other student initiatives, such as building more student housing.

The minister adds that it is not true that the ministry has the remaining money in a drawer for later use.

– Do you mean that most students have done well financially during the crisis?

– I probably think that some students have had lower expenses and have managed well financially, based on what one might fear this spring, Asheim responds.

– Do you think students have been involved in crisis maximization?

– No, when many were in the midst of the crisis of the crown, the situation was partly very confused. Therefore, that support plan was absolutely necessary.