Legislative proposal from CHP: Increase scholarship and loan amounts for university students

CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer has submitted a legislative proposal to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to ensure that university students can live under better conditions in the face of worsening economic circumstances. 

Gürer requested an amendment to Law No. 5102 on Granting Scholarships and Loans to Higher Education Students to increase the scholarship and loan amounts. He proposes raising the monthly amounts to 5,000 Turkish Lira for associate and undergraduate students, 7,000 Turkish Lira for master's students, and 9,000 Turkish Lira for doctoral students, with these amounts to be adjusted annually according to the revaluation rate.

Gürer stated the following:

"Education is one of the most fundamental elements in building a country's future. It must ensure equality of opportunity in education. The scholarship and loan amounts provided in Turkey are far from meeting the basic needs of students. The increase provided for scholarships has not been beneficial due to the economic crisis. The increase is insufficient. The increase should at least be at a point that contributes to the student.

Education has become difficult. Expenses have increased. How will retirees, minimum wage earners, and low-income families afford to put their children through university? Every level of education is waiting for solutions to the problems being experienced. The inadequacy of KYK scholarships not only forces students to work part-time but also causes them to remain distant from social and cultural activities. I also told the Minister during the Ministry of Youth and Sports budget negotiations that scholarships needed to be increased. Ultimately, there was an adjustment. However, the adjustment remained insufficient in the face of the economic crisis.

According to the legislative proposal; it is envisioned that 5,000 Turkish Lira per month will be provided to associate and undergraduate students, 7,000 Turkish Lira per month to master's students, and 9,000 Turkish Lira per month to doctoral students. The regulation, which includes increasing these amounts annually by the revaluation rate, aims to offer students an educational process free from economic anxieties.

Meeting the basic needs of students is not a favor, but a requirement of a social state. This legislative proposal will be a source of hope for our youth and will prepare them for a better future.

If this regulation aimed at increasing student scholarship amounts is accepted in the TBMM, it will directly affect the lives of thousands of university students and will be a step taken in the name of equality of opportunity in education."