The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced this Saturday in Zaragoza that the Council of Ministers will approve next Tuesday a budget of 2,549 million euros for the general scholarship system. The figure represents an increase of 18% compared to the previous item.
In total, this amount is expected to benefit more than one million students throughout the territory during the next school year (2023-2024). According to government sources, the average amount of these scholarships is estimated at 1,730 euros for non-university students and 3,130 euros for those studying at a higher education center.
"It is the largest game ever seen in our democracy in favor of equality," said the president, who pointed out that the increase dedicated to scholarships under his command is just over 70% compared to the last year of the PP government with Mariano Rajoy (1,493 million).
Sánchez also advanced the approval of another 200 million for a new universal subsidy for students with specific needs. These aids, of 400 euros per year per person, will benefit some 240,000 students, and will be compatible with the scholarships that each student can receive based on their family economic situation.
Among the requirements, it is specified that students who are over two years old, are enrolled in any of the non-university educational levels and can prove a disability of at least 33% or a serious conduct disorder, of the communication, suffer from autism or are highly capable students.
The residence grants for post-compulsory studies will also notice a substantial increase: from the 1,600 euros of the current course they will go to 2,500 euros. From the Government they point out that they will have a special impact on families in rural environments, where young people have to move and reside in large cities to be able to take these post-compulsory studies.
Sánchez made his announcement during a public event attended by some 700 supporters in support of the Socialist candidate for mayor of Zaragoza, Lola Ranera, in which the Aragonese president, Javier Lambán, also spoke.
During his speech, the leader of the Socialists highlighted the commitment to reinforce the welfare state as the flag of his party for the autonomous and regional elections in May. For this, he made an enthusiastic review of the achievements of his government -increase in pensions, the interprofessional minimum wage or the defense of public health- and threw several darts at the PP.
Sánchez used irony when referring to the president of the popular, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, and his current position on abortion, for "discovering now" that abortion is a right, "even if he does not consider it fundamental." “Welcome to the 21st century even if it is 25 years late,” he added. In this sense, he added that abortion "is a women's right and no one, certainly not the PP, can decide on reproduction in their place."
