Students are protesting food prices, the laws are waiting to be discussed in the Parliament

University students started the new academic year with the same problems. Most recently, Boğaziçi University students protested the increased food prices again. While students start each academic year by protesting the increased food prices, missing dormitories, and insufficient scholarships; Solutions to these problems have been waiting in the Parliament for a long time.

For example; In the bill proposal first presented to the Parliament by CHP member Levent Gök in January 2020, and then renewed by NEW Party member Sezgin Tanrıkulu in the new legislative period; It is suggested that a separate allowance be included in the budget of public universities to provide free meals to students. The proposal in question has been waiting to be discussed in the Education Commission for 6 years.

In the proposal submitted by İYİ Party member Şenol Sunat to the Parliament last year, it is requested that university students who cannot find accommodation in state dormitories be provided with housing and nutrition aid. In the same proposal, students staying in state dormitories are also offered to provide at least two free meals a day. Numerous legislative proposals regarding free meals from other opposition parties are also pending in the commission.

THERE IS AUTHORITY TO APPOINT A RECTOR, BUT NO RESPONSIBILITY

Opposition MPs also have legislative proposals for rectors, whose appointment authority rests with the president. In these proposals, rectors; It is recommended that the Rector be elected by the Rector Selection Board, which consists of faculty members, student representatives, faculty members and representatives of the university administrative staff. The government, on the other hand, not only does not put these suggestions on the agenda, but also ignores the parliamentary questions on the subject. In this context, although the authority to appoint rectors belongs to the president, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, who was presented with a parliamentary question regarding the appointment criteria of rectors, merely replied, "The mentioned issues fall within the scope of duty and authority of the Ministry of National Education."