Student scholarships on the agenda of the Turkish Parliament

In a parliamentary question submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly for the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, to answer, CHP's Deniz Yücel emphasized that it is impossible for university students to make ends meet with a monthly student loan of 4,000 liras. Yücel stated that while the scholarship amount was increased by 33 percent, students are still struggling to meet their basic needs.

In his motion, Deniz Yücel stated, 'The AKP is so out of touch with the cost of living that it thinks a student can survive on 4,000 liras a month.' Reminding that students starting university often have to move to other cities and pay rent or dormitory fees, Yücel also noted that transportation and food expenses create a significant burden.

Pointing out that in areas where students are concentrated, a glass of tea is sold for 30 TL and coffee ranges between 100 and 120 TL, Yücel stated, “Excluding books, stationery, and transportation expenses, the daily food expenditure of a student living in a dormitory is a minimum of 500 TL under current economic conditions.”

QUESTIONS ON THE PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA

In his motion, Yücel asked what criteria were used when determining the scholarship increase and whether the students' demands were taken into account. Calling for more comprehensive support to solve the economic difficulties faced by students, Yücel demanded that scholarship amounts be reviewed. Students, meanwhile, are expressing their views that the current rate of increase remains insufficient in the face of rising living costs.