Student amnesty back on agenda: AK Party bill to be submitted to Parliament

The AK Party has prepared a bill aimed at allowing students who were dismissed from university or who did not enroll despite being eligible since July 1, 2022, to return to their education. This regulation, known as the "student amnesty," includes amendments to the Higher Education Law. The bill is expected to be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) this week. AK Party deputies, led by Group Chairman Abdullah Güler, have finalized their work on the proposal. The regulation covers students dismissed from associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

Under the bill, students who were dismissed from associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs after July 1, 2022, as well as candidates who qualified for university enrollment but did not register, will be eligible. These individuals must apply to the university from which they were dismissed or where they gained admission within four months after the regulation comes into effect. If they do so, they can resume their studies in the 2026-2027 academic year. This process offers students a chance to return to their educational pursuits.

However, certain individuals will be excluded from the student amnesty. Those convicted of terrorism offenses, intentional homicide, torture, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, drug manufacturing or trafficking, as well as those whose enrollment was canceled due to fraudulent documents, those who submitted fake documents during registration, and individuals with membership, affiliation, or connection to terrorist organizations or groups determined by the National Security Council to be acting against national security, will not benefit from the regulation. These exceptions limit the scope of the amnesty.

In addition to the student amnesty, the bill also plans to implement various amendments to the Higher Education Law. These changes aim to improve the higher education system overall. After the bill is submitted to the TBMM, it is expected to be discussed in committees and the General Assembly before being enacted into law. The progress of the process and when the bill will become law are matters of interest.

This regulation offers a significant opportunity for students who had to interrupt their education. However, the exceptions and details of the application process are issues that students need to follow carefully. The AK Party's move aims to increase equality of opportunity in education. The upcoming parliamentary discussions and possible amendments to the bill will be closely monitored.