Students at the University of Aleppo in formerly liberated areas are suffering from a dire educational and economic situation that threatens their academic future and even puts them on the brink of expulsion, amidst clear neglect by relevant educational authorities.
Zaman al-Wasl has received successive letters from university students, appealing to officials to shed light on their disastrous conditions. They asserted that "the situation of students today is worse than ever, caught between the clutches of the Ministry of Higher Education and the university administration on the one hand, and the deteriorating living conditions and rising tuition fees on the other."
One student added, "We are children of the revolution. We carry the dream of change and build a new future on the ruins of destruction, but it seems that the institutions of the formerly liberated areas are holding us accountable for this dream. Tuition fees have become astronomical, reaching thousands of dollars in some specializations, while most of us live in unbearable economic conditions."
According to the information we have obtained, dozens—even hundreds—of students are threatened with termination of their university enrollment if they fail to pay their due fees by April 30. In the absence of any real plan to support these students, the decision appears to ignore neither the economic reality nor the revolutionary circumstances that created this university in the first place.
Another student adds, "Is it reasonable for a student to choose between rebuilding his home, destroyed by Assad, and continuing his studies? What is happening today is the destruction of the revolutionary future of the youth of the liberated areas by an institution that is supposed to be a partner in the liberation, not an opponent."
There is widespread discontent among students at the University of Aleppo in the liberated areas, following what they consider clear discrimination against them compared to students at Idlib University. This is especially true after the government's Ministry of Higher Education decided to allocate 10% of graduate study places to Idlib University students only. Following a student pressure campaign, the decision was amended to include only 5% of the places allocated to the University of Aleppo, sparking a wave of anger among students who view this as a disregard for their sacrifices and a disregard for their rights.
The students are demanding the abolition or radical reduction of tuition fees, the provision of genuine financial support that takes into account the harsh living conditions, and equal opportunities for all universities in the north. They also call for an end to threats to expel financially disadvantaged students and for collaborative solutions to be found that preserve students' dignity and protect their right to education.
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