The state has no money to build dormitories for students, or...

As the beginning of the academic year approaches, students going to Baku to receive higher education, especially those who come from remote regions, face a difficult task. The prospect of learning and growth is combined with the struggle to obtain suitable housing, which paints a harsh picture of the housing difficulties faced by many.

The ghost of dilapidated dormitories, the result of long-term residence of internally displaced persons, hangs over the universities of the capital. A confluence of factors, including the recent influx of individuals from Ukraine due to the war, has put unprecedented pressure on the rental housing market. Brokers confirm the difficulty of finding decent housing rental options in Baku for less than 450 manats, which exceeds the minimum wage in the country of 345 manats.

Official data show a grim reality: only 2.5 percent of university students across the country are given access to dormitories. Among the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, 53 dormitory buildings are scattered throughout the territory, but only 16 are recognized as suitable for living after reconstruction. Last year, there was only one dormitory for 800 people, built on the territory of the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry.

While the moods of famous personalities remain inaccessible for direct study, Jeyhun Mammadov, a member of the Committee on Science and Education of the Milli Majlis, expresses urgent concern. Mammadov, in an interview with Turan, emphasizes the aggravated dilemma associated with dormitories. According to him, "The cost of renting housing this year has become even more astronomical, which creates obstacles for students. It is extremely important to quickly solve the problem with the hostel. We may not be able to solve this problem in its entirety right away, but we need to start moving forward."

Anticipating a potential legislative remedy, Mammadov draws attention to the upcoming law "On Higher Education", which provides for the creation of social dormitories. He stresses the urgency of its adoption, considering it a key step forward.

In this confusing situation, Farid Imanov, chairman of the Student Government Center, told Radio Azadlig that education is under the jurisdiction of the state, and therefore claims that the state is obliged to solve the housing issue. Imanov explains: "Providing scholarships for living based on specific criteria to solve the housing crisis faced by students entering public universities for free or on preferential terms may partially alleviate the problem." He argues that in order to achieve a holistic solution, it is necessary to restructure the system of commercial education.

Imanov draws attention to the plight of students whose scholarships are barely enough to cover their basic living expenses, which forces many to work long hours to make ends meet. The all-encompassing difficulty defies resolution, exposing the gap between the rhetoric about progress and the life experience of students.

The larger-scale consequences of this housing crisis did not escape the attention of Imanov, who emphasizes the potential of organized actions resulting from the interaction of students in dormitories. He argues that until this issue is comprehensively resolved, the latent development potential will remain trapped in an ongoing cycle of rhetoric and inaction.