Christoph rustler is 17 and would like to leave as little as possible on his parents' pockets. "I think that's the way it should be." He works a job while going to school, even though he's running out of time. All the more scarce, the closer the abiturprufungen in the spring jerken. He is principled and does not want to abandon them even if he enrolls in business school in october. He has not yet made up his mind, but he is tempted by an apprenticeship. "In order to already have something firm in hand.", he says.
Education for all
As a student, he would probably be forced to die against his wishes, even though he continues to work part-time. He would be financially again more dependent on his parents. Expensive rents in bavarian cities, high cost of living, semester ticket – and tuition fees. "It's not easy, you can get rid of your money very quickly", says the bad kissinger. That's why many of his acquaintances didn't enroll at a university in bavaria, but went to thuringia and saxony. Education is cheaper there. Actually, however, should be freely accessible. "Schools don't cost anything", says rustler. Tuition fees exclude poorer people in his opinion.
"Tuition fees are socially selective", scolds sabine dittmar (SPD). The member of the state parliament from bad kissingen is a member of the local action alliance for the abolition of tuition fees. Together with seven other alliance partners, including the opposition parties, the german federation of trade unions (DGB) and the protestant church, she is campaigning in the district for the referendum, which is to be held in the city on 17 june. Up to 30. January runs bavaria-wide. With good prospects of success. "You can see from the diversity of the alliance partners how broad the support is among the population." Dittmar is confident he will be able to raise the required 950.000 signatures to be obtained. Opponents must officially register.
Bavaria double burdened
"I think it's good that people's opinions are being asked", says wilfried hamm, chairman of the parents' council at jack steinberger high school. He assumes that the petition will be successful and finds the attitude of the opponents of the tuition fees understandable. "Especially in the matter of social justice". However, he also sees the benefits that should be enforced upon implementation. Namely the solid financing of the universities.
Nevertheless, hamm thinks that the levy is now in conflict with the state fiscal equalization system, because it is now only levied in lower saxony as well as in bavaria. "Bavarian parents are punished twice over, he criticizes. They had to pay for the university system directly through tuition fees and indirectly through compensation payments.
The society profits
"You can't think you can get education for free.", frank kubitza, principal at the jack-steinberger-gymnasium, emphasizes. Germany is one of the richest countries in europe, but lags behind the oecd average when it comes to education spending.
"We should be willing to pay a little for education." By this, the principal means the general public. Although individual academics earn more, they also make a considerable contribution and pay higher taxes. Those who study later contribute to the system for the benefit of society. "Education is a concern for everyone and not a private pleasure. It must be financed by everyone, because it benefits everyone", kubitza emphasizes. Also non-academics and parents without children.