Parents Join Student Protests against Rise in Charges

Around 250 students and parents gathered in central Kadıköy, Istanbul, following the call by the Students' Youth Union Genç-Sen.

They wanted to protest against the rise in fees that the Higher Education Council (YÖK) has announced to be valid as of July.

The protesters were supported by Süleyman Çelebi, president of the DİSK trade union confederation, as well as members of other trade unions.

"No fees this year"

The police stopped the crowd from marching, but the protesters said that their democratic right could not be denied and refused to disperse. For about twenty minutes, they shouted slogans such as "Go away police, the streets are ours", "no increase in fees, increase in wages" and "we will not give up, we will make them give up". Passers-by also gathered around them in support. When the police withdrew, the protesters walked towards the seafront and gathered in Kadıköy Square.

There, they read a press statement in which they said that they refused to accept increases of unversity charges ranging from 8 to 500 percent: "As Genç-Sen, we have two urgent demands: The first is to take back these unbelievable fees, and the second is not to charge any fees in the face of the economic crisis."

Meeting with YÖK today

Union representatives announced that YÖK had accepted their demand for a meeting and that Genç-Sen members would be talking to YÖK vice chair Ömer Demir today (28 July) at 11 am.

After reiterating their determination to stand firm against the increases, parents and students dispersed.

Since YÖK announced the rises last week, there have been protests in different cities around Turkey every day.

Police violence against protesters

The police has been criticised for using disproportionate force when intervening in protests.

On Saturday, 11 members of Genç-Sen and student collectives who wanted to protest against the rises at a workshop entitled "Higher Education Problems in Turkey" held at the Marmara Hotel in Istanbul, were beaten and taken into police custody.

While the government has approved a raise in the minimum wage of 4.1 percent and of 1.8 percent for pensions, YÖK has decided on rises in fees ranging from 8 to 500 percent.

Students in all universities, particularly in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kocaeli have protested.

Up to 500 percent more

The "contribution" that students are being asked to pay range from 71 to 591 TL (34 to 281 Euros). Medical faculties charge the most, followed by dental medicine and pharmacology with 494 TL (235 Euros).

The most dramatic increases have been for evening classes at university. Literature faculties ask for 2,426 TL, state conservatories for 3,952 TL, veterinary faculties for between 1,976 and 5,276 TL, and engineering faculties for between 1,416 and 2,400 TL. (ÇA/EK/AG)