Tepak students use tents to protest high rents (Update)

The start of the academic year got off to a rocky start in Limassol as students from the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak) set up tents on campus to protest over “outrageously high rents”.

Large banners were also placed around the campus. “We will soon be studying while living in tents!” one banner read, further calling on the government to take immediate action to secure housing for all students.

Others pointed to prices faced by students in Limassol: “Single room apartment for rent next to Tepak – price: Only 850 euros.”

The Proodeftiki student movement extended its support to the symbolic protest and urged the government to take immediate action. It argued that municipalities should reduce costs for students, that state grants to students should be increased and that there should be a rent subsidy scheme for students from low-income families.

And while the focus was on Limassol, well-known for its high rents, the group also sought to emphasise that students were facing similar problems in other districts.

It warned that some students may have to ditch their studies due to high costs, while others would be forced into working while studying.

In late August, just before the start of the academic year, Tepak announced a programme giving students the option to be hosted by local families, as there was not enough available housing.

Despite accommodation offered by the university and an additional 290 student rooms built by the archbishopric near the Tsirio stadium two years ago, securing accommodation remained the “biggest challenge” faced by students who are from outside the district, Tepak said.

It added that the demand for private apartments “far exceeds” the supply, while rents were “outrageously high”.

Meanwhile, the transport ministry has initiated procedures to extend the night bus schedule from Limassol to Paphos to better serve commuting students.

The move is underway following a request by a group of about 20 Tepak students who live in Paphos and chose to commute to avoid paying high rents, the head of public passenger transport at the ministry Andreas Nikiforou.

They said additional routes after 8pm will help those who have late workshops.

“We are looking into the exact needs of the students to add the additional route or routes as soon as possible,” Nikiforou said.