This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Kenyan students in Germany are set to benefit from a financial assistance package announced by the Federal Education Ministry in the country.
According to a statement by the ministry, the students are facing financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected 90 per cent of international students in Germany, as per a survey conducted by Studying-in-Germany.org.
As a result of the lockdown, many students have lost their part-time jobs, with the Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek stating that 'numerous students have lost their jobs because of many industries temporarily closing their business activities.'
The ministry has announced that it will provide financial assistance to students who have been affected by job losses, including those who are not eligible for BAföG or other forms of income like scholarships or an Erasmus grant.
Students will have the chance to apply for an initially interest-free loan from KfW, the German state-owned development bank, with the application form opened on June 1.
The loan will be available to Kenyan students for up to Sh77,000, and the Federal Education Ministry will also provide the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) with Sh12 billion (€100 million) for emergency funds in local student services.
Dr Günther Bräunig, CEO of the KfW group, expressed optimism that the new measures will help students who are financially affected by the pandemic, stating that 'students will be able to proceed with their studies even if their part-time work dries up or they receive less support from their parents.'
