Statement on student amnesty from Erol Özvar

Council of Higher Education (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar responded to criticisms regarding universities during the Ministry of National Education budget negotiations. Stating that there are 3 million 773 thousand students in formal undergraduate education and 2 million 700 thousand in open education in Turkey, Özvar noted that 324 thousand master's students and 93 thousand doctoral students are currently enrolled in graduate programs. In light of these data, Özvar said that criticisms claiming university student numbers are excessively high do not reflect the truth.

Addressing the issue of fake diplomas, Özvar emphasized that YÖK has filed criminal complaints with judicial and administrative authorities regarding forgeries detected during equivalency processes.

RETIREMENT AGE AND STUDENT AMNESTY

Özvar stated that the retirement age for faculty members could be raised to 72 and that special contracts could be made with universities until the age of 75. He expressed that this regulation would be shaped by a parliamentary decision.

Announcing that a regulation will also be made for those who have lost their student status, Özvar announced that the regulation prepared for students who lost this right during internships or residency programs will be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) shortly.

News Source: 12punto