Training
The Thurgau Canton can’t give as much scholarship as it wants
As the total amount of scholarships awarded decreases year after year, Thurgau entitlements are expanding. The growing number of working mothers and the epidemic are having an impact.
Apprentices make up the largest group of scholarship recipients: cooking apprentices in Weinfelden.
While more young people are completing their apprenticeships, Thurgau Canton is offering fewer and fewer scholarships. In early 2019, the Government Council therefore softened the eligibility criteria. Since it did not break the trend, it is now following.
From 2005 to 2015, Thurgau received more than 1,200 scholarships each year. Until 2019, the number has steadily dropped to 1076. In 2020 alone it was slightly higher due to innovation, i.e. 1158 recipients.
In 2020, Canton awarded about 7 million francs, said Claudia Keller, head of the training grant department at the middle school and university office:
“We expect it to be 7.5 million francs again.”
Claudia Keller, Middle School and University Office.
If the canton administration spends less than budgeted, it usually gets praise for it; For example, the Great Council on Wednesday recognized the enhanced efficiency of the Road Traffic Office. Keller explains why scholarships are different: “It’s an important investment.”
Parental income has increased
About twenty years ago, Thurgau offered scholarships worth more than 10 million Swiss francs a year. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. One reason is probably the high number of working mothers at present. As a result, parents’ income has increased and scholarship entitlement has decreased.
During the epidemic, less apprentices and students went out with their parents. As a result, they will have less entitlements for their scholarships, as they are primarily intended to cover the cost of meals and travel expenses.
One of the effective changes from August 1, 2022 is the parental contribution that counts for scholarship eligibility. In the case of working people who wish to complete a course of study, parents are now expected to contribute only if they earn more than 150,000 CHF. So far, from 120,000 francs it has already been
In addition, the income of a cohabiting partner is included only if the applicant is 25 years of age and the cohabitation lasts four years. Previously, a contribution was expected from a partner just two years later.
This means, for example, a 20-year-old no longer receives a scholarship because she left with her boyfriend when she was 18 and lived with him for two years:
“It’s unreasonable, even if it’s an isolated case.”
These two systems should have the most impact. Employees also benefit from a higher discount limit for their assets. It will be 30,000 CHF to 40,000 CHF Seller says:
“Anyone who has already worked may have a little more resources.”
Children of divorced parents and younger siblings of large families also have easy access to scholarships.
Scholarship policy in the middle of Canton
According to department head Keller, Thargau’s scholarship policy is in the middle of the cantons. Thurgau is generous in terms of reasonable parental contributions – parents have to bear less training costs than other cantons.
“We’re rather strict when it comes to chargeable costs.” For example, students are expected to live with their parents if the journey to university does not take more than an hour; Station to station route applies. This is why Weinfelder and Freinfelder, for example, cannot declare the cost of living abroad as a necessary expense when they study in Zurich or St. Gallen.