Greek Ed. Min.: Student allowance will be increased with retroactive effect – The beneficiaries

The increase in the student housing allowance with retroactive effect for last year and the creation of new student residences are the two axes of support for students, as announced by the Greek Education Minister, Niki Kerameos, at today’s Press conference, during which the Social Housing Strategy was presented.

The student allowance

The allowance, which has already been announced and involves an increase to 1,500 euros from 1,000 euros, in addition to being applicable to students of the Public Vocational Training Institute, will be paid this autumn retroactively in addition for 2021-22.

Moreover, the allowance is increased to 2,000 euros in all cases of cohabitation.

The beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of the extended allowance are estimated at around 50,000 students, Kerameos pointed out.

The budget of the Ministry for the student allowance amounts to 75 million euros, with an increase of more than 25 million euros.

Special arrangements have been launched, Kerameos stressed, for students at the three outlying Universities, Aegean, West Macedonia and Democritus University of Thrace, as the criteria for beneficiaries are extended from 30,000 to 40,000 euros of family income.

The student residences

As for the student halls of residence in five regions of the country, Thrace, Western Macedonia, Thessaly, Western Attica and Crete, more than 8,150 beds will be created through PPP at a cost of more than 540 million euros.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2023 and to be completed in 2027.