Age limit introduced for student discounts on Istanbulkart

It has been decided to reduce the discount rate for students who have reached the age of 30 to 10 percent for Istanbulkart usage. 

The third session of the IMM Council for July was held at the municipal building in Saraçhane, chaired by the Council's 1st Deputy Speaker Nuri Aslan.

Following a letter sent to the council by the Public Transport Services Branch Directorate, a change in the definition of a student for the Istanbulkart Regulation was requested.

The report stated that a 10 percent discount will be applied to the Full Istanbulkart, Monthly Full Blue Card, and Full Transfer fees determined by the UKOME decision for students who have reached the age of 30.

The joint report of the Legal Commission and the Plan and Budget Commission included the following statements regarding the change made to the Student Istanbulkart definition:

"The Student Istanbulkart definition refers to a personalized Istanbulkart issued to students studying under the National Defense University, the Higher Education Law, and whose YÖKSİS registration is verified, as well as individuals studying under the Basic Law on National Education, the Law on Private Education Institutions, the Apprenticeship Training Law, and other laws, whose registration is verified through an electronic system.

Individuals who have completed their high school education but have taken the university entrance exam and have not qualified to be placed in any university or have not made any preferences are considered students for a period of 1 year.

For students who have reached the age of 30, a discount of 10 percent of the Full Istanbulkart, Monthly Full Blue Card, and Full Transfer fees determined by the UKOME decision is applied."

"CONTRARY TO THE ORDINARY FLOW OF LIFE"

An AKP member of the Legal Commission stated that the proposal was contrary to the constitutional principle of equality and the law, and that all students should benefit from the same rights, expressing that they found the decision to be wrong.

CHP Group Spokesperson Gencay Özcan stated that the number of people using the discounted student card over the age of 30 in Istanbul has increased from 122 thousand to 270 thousand since 2019, and argued that this is contrary to the ordinary flow of life.

Arguing that the IMM is suffering a loss due to this, Özcan noted that if measures are not taken, they might be forced to discuss high price hikes.

AKP Group Spokesperson Murat Türkyılmaz also reacted to the decision, saying, "According to the IMM, the age of learning is 30. There is no logical side to this. We have seen the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality for 5 years with its populist practices. We saw this in the Halk Ekmek and student dormitory price hikes as well. In the words of your Secretary General, only a municipality that has hit rock bottom can do this."

Following the speeches, the proposal was accepted by majority vote.

News Source: AA