The cost of living for students has become increasingly high, whether they study in Cyprus or abroad, according to Marios Kampouris, President of POFEN’s General Secretariat of Federations.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Kampouris said many students had contacted POFEN following the publication of the Pancyprian examination results for assistance with university enrolment and accommodation.
Finding affordable student housing has now become one of the main concerns for young people preparing to begin their studies.
Demand also growing among students heading to Greece
Kampouris said applications had already begun for students planning to study in Greece, with results expected in the coming days.
He said POFEN expects many of these students to seek assistance with enrolment and finding accommodation once the results are announced by Greece’s Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.
Comparing current costs with those he encountered as a first-year student, Kampouris said the cost of living had risen significantly over the years, both in Cyprus and abroad.
He warned that rising costs could become a deterrent for families seeking to send their children to university.
POFEN calls for broader housing measures
Kampouris said POFEN believes the housing problem cannot be addressed through a single allowance.
The federation is calling for a broader increase in the supply of affordable land, the use of public land, regulation of incentives for private developers and closer links between housing, transport and spatial planning.
It is also calling for the expansion of existing student residences and the construction of new beds through long-term planning across cities.
Limassol, where plans for new student residences are already under way, was cited as an example.
State and private sector cooperation proposed
POFEN has proposed cooperation between the state, universities, the Cyprus Land Development Corporation, local authorities and private developers to build student residences on state or university-owned land.
The federation also proposes granting increased building density only where developers commit to providing a specified percentage of affordable units.
Other proposals include a public register of student accommodation containing information on prices, locations, accessibility and energy efficiency.
POFEN also wants accessible rooms for students with disabilities and a limited number of emergency beds for students facing an unexpected housing crisis.
Meeting with government ministers planned
Kampouris said the proposals have been approved by POFEN and will be submitted to the relevant ministries by the federation’s new secretariat in the coming days.
A meeting is also being planned between the POFEN secretariat and the Ministers of Education, Finance, Transport and Interior to discuss the proposals and the wider student housing issue.
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