University cafeteria prices hiked by a full 311 percent in four months!

Cafeteria prices at Dicle University have increased by 311 percent in the last four months. Dicle University, one of the universities receiving the highest budget allocations in Turkey, has raised meal prices from 9 liras to 29.5 liras since the beginning of the academic year. 

While the total budget allocated to higher education institutions for 2024 was 341 billion liras, Dicle University ranked among the top 20 universities receiving the most funding with 5 billion 174 million liras. However, it is alleged that the university is not using this budget for the benefit of students. According to a statement by Diyarbakır Labor Youth (Diyarbakır Emek Gençliği), a demand was made for the meal price hikes to be withdrawn.

The statement noted that the exorbitant increase in student meal prices makes students' educational expenses even more difficult and puts them in a more precarious financial situation. According to the report in Evrensel, it was also stated that the university imposed a mandatory requirement for students to open accounts at Yapı ve Kredi Bankası, a situation that was met with backlash from the students.

Diyarbakır Labor Youth called on students to react against this hike and urged the rectorate to withdraw these increases. It was stated that the university administration issued a declaration evaluating the situation following meetings held with student representatives.