Schwerin (dpa/mv) - The state government is keeping its promise to help schools in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania pay the higher energy bills. As the Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting in Schwerin, the state is providing 10 million euros from the so-called hardship fund. This means that every tenth euro from the emergency aid fund decided by the state parliament in December goes to the sponsors of the around 560 public and free schools in the north-east, i.e. districts, municipalities as well as school associations and churches.
According to the ministry, the state grants one-off non-repayable grants upon application. The maximum subsidy is 51 euros per student, regardless of the structural condition of the school. In contrast to offices in the state administration and state parliament, classrooms were exempt from the requirement to limit the room temperature to 19 degrees.
"The current unpredictable situation of increased energy prices is a hardship that the school authorities cannot be held responsible for. The state government has reacted to this with the hardship fund," explained Education Minister Simone Oldenburg (left). With the financial relief, the basis for school operations will continue to be ensured. "Even in difficult times with an energy crisis, the education of the students must be guaranteed without fail," stressed Oldenburg.
According to the minister, the schools can freely dispose of the funds allocated from the hardship fund. If not all funds have to be used to pay the higher energy costs, the money can also be used for other measures. As an example, Oldenburg cited the reduction in fees for learning materials.
