GroenLinks says goodbye to loan system: reaction from DWARS

It happened! Today, GroenLinks said goodbye to the loan system, much to the delight of DWARS! DWARS has never been in favour of the loan system. In recent years, DWARS has been fighting hard internally and externally for an alternative.

The loan system became unsustainable last year: the increase on interest on student debt was the last straw. That's why we staged a protest in the autumn: students are not cash cows! A phrase we now hear from the mouth of our party leader Jesse Klaver. GroenLinks today launched a petition against this interest rate hike, showing its strong support for students.

At the GroenLinks congress in February, DWARS tabled a motion to start discussion within the party on alternatives, as the loan system is becoming increasingly anti-social. And our motion was passed! Since then, DWARS has been in constant dialogue with GroenLinks about the system. Our chair Julia Matser worked closely with MP Zihni Özdil, among others, and not without result: that discussion we talked about in our motion has started since this weekend, thanks to Zihni.

Since last year, DWARS has had a solid alternative to the loan system thanks to its education committee. We advocate the abolition of tuition fees, and repayment according to ability to pay in the form of a study allowance and study tax.

DWARS is happy. We are proud of a parent party that dares to distance itself from a system that does not have the intended effects. We will continue to fight for a social and good alternative to the loan system during the discussions that will take place until the summer .

Photo: Romyclick