About 90 percent of all students entitled to a basic study grant in the coming academic year have applied for it. On Monday, the counter stood at 391,288, the Education Executive Agency (DUO) said. At the beginning of July, DUO had already received over 200,000 applications.
The Education Executive Agency (DUO), in charge of student financing in the Netherlands, received at least three warnings or reports about potentially discriminatory criteria in its investigations into fraud with study grants. At least two lawyers and one student have reported bias and possible discrimination to DUO and in court, Trouw reports.
The Education Executive Agency (DUO) accuses ethnically diverse students of fraud with student grants and loans much more often than Dutch-only students, NOS and Investico reported after talking to 30 lawyers who assist students with objection procedures against DUO. Almost all of their clients are culturally diverse.
Students in higher education can apply for a basic study grant for the first time in eight years. The grant for students at universities of applied sciences and universities is returning next academic year. Those entitled to it can apply at the Education Executive Agency (DUO) from Monday. The service already announced this earlier this month.