The government is to pay compensation to students who were subjected to discriminatory checks and home visits by the student finance body DUO. €80 million has been set aside for this purpose.
In its efforts to combat abuse of the basic grant for students living away from home, DUO targeted students from migrant backgrounds in particular. This constituted indirect discrimination, as revealed in 2023 by an investigation by the Higher Education Press Agency (HOP) in collaboration with Investico, NOSop3 and the daily newspaper Trouw. It led to an apology from the government and the reimbursement of all fines and recovered basic grants.
4 years of waiting time
Compensation will now be added to this, Minister Rianne Letschert has written to the House of Representatives. The government is liable for the damage suffered by students as a result of the inappropriate home visits.
Due to the need for bespoke solutions, the process could take until 2030. Of the 80 million euros involved, half is earmarked for implementation. Of that amount, four million is set aside for independent legal support for current and former students. (HOP, BB)
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