YÖK’s Discrimination Against Earthquake Victims; Osmaniye Ignored in New Decisions

Extension of Special Student Rights for 2026-2027 The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) announced on July 16, 2026, that it has extended the 'special student' right for students in earthquake zones for another year [2]. This decision, aimed at preventing educational disruption for students affected by the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquakes, allows students to continue their education at other universities [4]. According to the council's official statement, this facility is intended for the 2026-2027 academic year to prevent further educational harm and academic decline for students in crisis areas [3].

Exclusion of Osmaniye and the Start of Protests Despite the extension of this regulation, its limitation to only four provinces—Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya—has caused fresh controversy [1]. Osmaniye, which was one of the 11 provinces severely damaged in the 2023 earthquakes, has been completely excluded from this list. This has drawn a sharp reaction from the Osmaniye branch of the Eğitim-İş union. Adem Yücel, the head of the union, strongly criticized the decision, stating that ignoring Osmaniye contradicts the principle of equality in the constitution and places students in the region in an unfair situation [1].

Scale of Damage in Osmaniye and the Need for Revision In his statement, Yücel reminded that during the devastating earthquakes, 1,010 people lost their lives in Osmaniye, and thousands of buildings were destroyed or seriously damaged [1]. He emphasized that students in this province, like those in other earthquake zones, are struggling with livelihood, housing, and psychological issues, and that creating a distinction between victims of a national disaster has no scientific, legal, or conscientious justification [1]. The union called on the Council of Higher Education to immediately revise this decision and include all affected provinces to ensure educational justice.

Background of YÖK Decisions for Earthquake Victims The special student right was first approved after the 2023 earthquakes to support students in regions under the State of Emergency (OHAL) [3]. This regulation was also implemented in the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 academic years to allow students to study in more stable educational environments [4]. However, while it was expected that these supports would continue until the full reconstruction of educational infrastructure in all regions, the sudden limitation in 2026 has created a sense of discrimination and frustration among residents of provinces like Osmaniye, who are still dealing with the physical and economic consequences of the disaster [1].