Thursday, June 23, Gleeful anticipation. But what does this mean? In order to assist students in times of increasing inflation, monthly funding rates are now to rise from to euros. Additionally, rent subsidy for students living on their own will increase up to euros. This means that the maximum funding rate a student possibly can receive jumps to a whopping euros per month. So, does the reformation really deliver what it promises, namely helping particularly low-income students during times of increasing prices?
Spoiler alert: not really. At second glance, the so-called reformation turns out to be a real drop in the ocean. First of all, one has to give credit to the government for recognizing the problems which many students are currently facing. However, what is the point of this putative help if it fails to keep its promise?
A spike in food and fuel prices, as well as spiraling heating costs hit particularly students with very low monthly income with full force. In addition, politicians seem to be oblivious to a severe problem, which affects students in big cities in particular: the massive surge in rental prices.
Times are long gone where students had to pay little for a big room in a shared flat. Nowadays, we are talking about an average rent of 4 until , in Munich even euros! And it gets even worse: students who are no longer covered by family insurance and, therefore, have to come up for the student health insurance themselves will face a hefty surplus in their contribution rate in Fueled by inflation, with an average income of euros, social participation becomes less and less possible and many students either fall into debt or see themselves forced to drop out of their studies due to financial reasons.
This is the reality that we live in. It seems, however, that the typical stereotype of students who have less money but a lot of spare time, lying back and relaxing is still manifested in our brains. The song reveals how Americans, who worked hard in order to pursue the American Dream, find themselves abandoned by their government.
