SABA/ST. EUSTATIUS–Some 1,000 ex-students live in the Caribbean Netherlands and have received student grants from the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) in the Netherlands. They were often insufficiently aware of the repayment possibilities of their student debt. Some therefore had to deal with a bailiff.
To deal with the debt problems, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science decided that former students in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba could be eligible for a one-time, customized payment scheme.
All ex-students with payment arrears, of whom DUO has an address in the Caribbean Netherlands, are offered a payment arrangement. Condition is that a request for a reduction of the monthly amount, based on a measurement of financial strength (draagkrachtmeting in Dutch), must be submitted no later than Saturday, May 5, 2018.
The form to request a reduction of the monthly amount can be found on website www.duo.nl/antillen.
If the draagkrachtmeting shows that the former student cannot pay off his or her debts, DUO will immediately withdraw its claims via a bailiff.
If people are in doubt whether DUO has their correct address, they can send an e-mail to antillen@duo.nl, stating first and last name, date of birth, address and telephone number.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76101-repayment-scheme-for-duo-study-debt
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