Too many people wanted to log in and a technical error also caused problems. According to the UWV, about 300,000 people were queuing an hour before the opening of the counter to apply for the training budget of 1,000 euros. There was also a malfunction due to a technical update. The implementing agency now knows what the problem is and is now working on a solution. The ticket office is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. on the 17th.
The UWV once again apologizes for the chaos. “We had to disappoint a lot of citizens and educators,” says STAP manager Ronald van Zijp. “We are very sorry about that.” According to him, it became clear “quite quickly” that a solution would not work in the short term.
Abuse
Anyone aged 18 and older can apply for the training budget of 1000 euros, provided that they do not receive state pension. However, there are now stricter requirements for providers to prevent abuse.
In recent years, there have been signals of abuse and improper use. For example, a handful of trainers earned tens of millions of euros with the subsidies. In some cases it became a revenue model, with trainers giving away gifts or sweet trips to students who participated.
Rules tightened
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has therefore taken measures. For example, the rules and conditions of the scheme have been tightened. One of the measures is a maximum of 300 awards per training activity. Some of the trainers gave unlimited online ‘lessons’.
Course provider Madelon Vos, known as Miss Bitcoin, was able to ‘further train’ 2500 students in this way. Last year she earned two million euros with her courses aimed at making predictions about the future of the market.
Rotten apples
Bad apples have also been removed from the register. Nevertheless, a number of controversial courses are still in the training register. For example, training as an orthomolecular therapist, part of naturopathy. Or the training to become a Bach flower therapist. An alternative therapy with flower extracts against all kinds of complaints such as anxiety and sleeping problems. There is no clear scientific basis for these therapies.
With the STAP budget you can also follow a ‘recognised beer training’ where you learn how to tap beer or a course to become a walking coach.
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From Tuesday you can follow beer training again at government expense
After a series of measures against abuse, it is again possible to apply for a training subsidy. It is still possible to follow beer training or training to become a Bach flower therapist at the government’s expense.