It has come to light that 131 thousand 452 university students were expelled from university and 11 thousand 482 were suspended during the time Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Özcan acted as President of the High Education Board.

In a the written statement presented to National Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu, CHP (Republican People’s Party) Group Vice President Muharrem Ýnce asked about students discharged and suspended from universities between years 2007-2010. Çubukçu, in her response basing on HEB data, gave the information that 131 thousand 452 students were expelled while disciplinary proceedings were run against 497.

Çubukçu marked that 11 thousand 482 students received suspension between years 2007-2010 and listed the suspension reasons as follows; “hanging banners, distributing leaflets, protesting university administration, absenteeism, failure, making propaganda on behalf of an organization, cheating during exam, insulting faculty members, displaying disturbing attitudes in class, taking books out of library non permitted, fighting…

Ince’s question how many students were discharged for not affording the university fee was answered by Çubukçu as follows; “The number of students dropped out for not affording the tuition is confirmed undetermined due to lack of a written application sent to universities on this subject”.

With an article on Bag of Laws regarding a new arrangement by HEB, discharge from university had been removed. Following the approval of the law, students will not be discharged from universities, they will be able to continue their education by paying more tuition.

Last year the non completion of 90 thousand free quotas in universities had caused complaints. The discharge of more than 130 thousand students also led to more emptiness in universities.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil