Dutch students, higher education administrators, and politicians will read out over 25,000 ‘objections’ to the long study penalty in an attempt to reach the governing parties (and voters).
On the morning of Tuesday 5 November a read-aloud marathon against the long study penalty will commence outside the House of Representatives. Students and university leaders will participate, along with party leaders from the opposition: Rob Jetten (D66), Frans Timmermans (GL-PvDA), Jimmy Dijk (SP), Esther Ouwehand (PvdD), and Laurens Dassen (Volt).
Punished
The government plans to impose a long study penalty of an additional €3,000 in tuition fees starting September 2026 for students who exceed their study duration by more than a year. In recent weeks, universities have collected around 25,000 ‘objections’ against this penalty, in which students explain their reasons for study delays.
“I am being punished because I care for my mother,” is one of the examples. In addition to caregiving, there are various other reasons for students’ delays, such as elite sports, pregnancy, participation in student participation and committee work in associations.
Following the readings in The Hague, the ‘marathon’ will continue over the coming weeks at universities across the country. On 26 November, the objections will be presented to the Education Committee of the House of Representatives. That week will also see a parliamentary debate on the Education, Culture, and Science budget. (HOP, BB)
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