Suche
Mein Konto
BAföG crisis in Thuringia: Students fight for survival!
Thuringia: BAföG problems for students, political decision on emergency regulations rejected. Urgent need for action required.
BAföG crisis in Thuringia: Students fight for survival!
The concerns of students in the Thuringian area are great. In a recent report from the Thuringian state parliament, an emergency regulation for BAföG recipients was rejected, which further exacerbates the financial hardship of many students, especially prospective teachers. How bildungsklick.de According to reports, the Thuringia Student Union currently has thousands of unprocessed BAföG applications on its list, while students often have to go without income for months.
The survey by the Thuringian Teachers' Association (tlv) from May 2025 is particularly alarming, showing that almost 80% of teacher training students wait longer than 12 weeks for their first BAföG notification. Some even report waiting times of up to 9 months. The financial burden is becoming a serious problem for many - more than half of those surveyed say that their financial situation is affecting their studies. Only 17% consider their BAföG rate to be sufficient, which indicates an urgent need to reform the funding rates.
No more bureaucracy!
The difficulties in applying for and processing BAföG applications are serious. Common problems include lost documents, weeks of waiting and unclear information, which further aggravates the situation of those affected. The tlv therefore calls for immediate financial security for those affected and for the BAföG process to be made less bureaucratic. An emergency mechanism is intended to prevent students from getting into financial difficulties while they wait for their documents.
State chairman Tim Reukauf emphasizes the urgency of action and points out that over 50% of teacher training students have to work regularly in addition to their studies - usually 10 to 19 hours per week. This not only shows the precariousness of the financial situation, but also shows that students need a good knack for time management in order to successfully complete their studies while working.
Digital future of applications
A ray of hope could be the digital application via the platform BAföG Digital which enables students to submit applications more quickly and easily. The platform even offers a BAföG calculator to determine your possible entitlement. It is also possible to submit applications in writing or digitally, which could significantly simplify the procedure. It is important that the data entered is correct so that the calculation is correct.
But despite digital approaches, the pressure on political decision-makers remains high. The demands for a realistic adjustment of the funding rates and a legal limit on processing times are justified and must be put into practice. This is the only way to pave the way for fair and necessary support for students.
In the meantime, it remains to be seen whether the political framework in Thuringia will soon change and whether teaching students will have to suffer less from financial worries. Meanwhile, the tlv is staying on the ball and is not letting up to improve the situation.