45 Thousand 300 Students Not Provided with Accommodation in Public Dormitories

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According to the data shared by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the students who applied for accommodation in a public dormitory in 2018-2019 school year were not provided with accommodation.

The Ministry has shared this information in response to a Parliamentary question by Republican People's Party (CHP) Niğde MP Ömer Fethi Gürer regarding the accommodation problem of university students.

Accordingly, Gürer has raised his concerns over this problem at the Parliament based on the Ministry's answer to his question. He has emphasized that, unable to be accommodated in a public dormitory, students are compelled to stay in a foundation or private dormitory.

'Bed capacity of dormitories to reach 875 thousand 203'

In the answer given by the Ministry, it has been stated that the bed capacity of public dormitories will reach 875 thousand 203 by the end of 2022 within the scope of investment and renting program.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has also shared the information that 427 thousand 152 students applied for accommodation in public dormitories in 2018-2019 school year and 381 thousand 843 of these students were provided with a place in a public dormitory. However, 45 thousand 3019 applicants were not provided with accommodation.

The Ministry has also indicated that granting permissions to private dormitories for secondary and higher education students, making regulations on these dormitories, closing and inspecting them are within the authority and jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Education.

'Students compelled to stay in foundation dormitories'

Underlining that the 17-year Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has not yet found a solution for the accommodation problem of students, MP Gürer has stated,

"The applications of almost 50 thousand students remained inconclusive last year. In a period when economic problems have been escalating, students should be provided with the opportunity to benefit from the dormitories of the state around the universities where they receive education.

"It is a must that the government eliminate this problem by managing the financial potentials of the state properly.

"Though they have been stating for years that they will resolve the dormitory problem, students are compelled to stay in foundation and private dormitories or they have to rent houses in big cities at high prices."

Concluding his remarks, Gürer has said, "All university students who want to stay in a public dormitory should be provided with accommodation and the necessary works to ensure it should be concluded now." (AÖ/SD)