Two universities threaten Ministry with court case. TU Delft ‘will keep talks going’

Painful as it is for higher education, it came as no surprise on Tuesday when the coalition parties in the Senate voted in favour of Minister of Education Eppo Bruins’ budget. JA21 and three Christian parties, with whom deals had been made, also voted in favour. The senior citizens’ party, 50Plus, was also in favour.

The rest voted against. Before the vote, Paul van Meenen (D66) had stated that the Education, Culture and Science’s budget was ‘an attack on the future of our young people’.

To court

The approval is leading some universities to go to court about the cutbacks of over EUR 200 million on starter and incentive grants. In any case, Tilburg University and Radboud University will do so, a notice (in Dutch) from the Universities of The Netherlands (UNL) umbrella organisation stated.

The futures of our children and grandchildren are being cut back

The universities intend to fight the decision on the grounds of the administrative agreement that the previous Cabinet had made with them in which extra financing was promised. This agreement is now broken. In the budget debate on Tuesday, the Senate also expressed doubts about this.

How does TU Delft see this?

A spokesperson announced that TU Delft will not join the legal case. But it does agree with UNL’s message. ‘Dutch universities share a position on the cutbacks as a whole. However, there are differences in the details and this is why some universities will take legal action and others will not. We understand that they are standing up for their interests. TU Delft will not go to court and will keep the talks going with the Ministry,’ writes the spokesperson.

While the Education, Culture and Science budget has been accepted, the resistance against the policy continues, including outside the courtroom. Students will demonstrate (in Dutch) again, said the Dutch Student Union. ‘The futures of our children and grandchildren are being cut back.’ The FNV trade union (‘A black day for Dutch education’) confirms local demonstrations and strikes, such as Tuesday in Rotterdam and Thursday in Tilburg.

TU Delft management supports the strike at TU Delft

It will be TU Delft’s turn to strike on Thursday 24 April. The Executive Board supports the action, says an intranet message. Going on strike is a right, it says, so asking for a day off is not necessary and no salary will be withheld.

TU Delft will remain open. Tests, compulsory classes, practical sessions and doctoral dissertation defences will continue. Anyone not on strike can continue working.

People in critical positions who wish to go on strike are advised to work with their supervisors to find solutions. Teachers are requested to let their students know in advance if their lectures will not go ahead. These lessons will not be given another time, and students will have to go through the material themselves.

 HOP, Bas Belleman/Delta, Kim Bakker