Ethiopian students who are in government scholarship in Turkey have not been paid their monthly stipends for the past four months, amid the fear that their studies might be disrupted. The students, drawn from staff of Mizan Aman, Arsi, Debre Tabor, Wollo Universities and high school graduates from different parts of the country, enrolled in Turkey’s Near East University in October but they have not been paid their stipends.
The students are complaining that they are suffering serious financial difficulties and contemplating returning home because of lack of funds for tuition fees, medical cover and living allowances. Most of them said they missed their first semester courses and were unable to pay for permit licenses. The stranded students have been trying to contact the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs but they received no responses, some of them told Radio Fana.
Contacted by Radio Fana, Samuel Kifle, State Minister for Ministry of Education’s Higher Education, said that the students were not paid their stipends because of the foreign currency shortages in the country. But now, he said after contacts with the Prime Minister Office, a budget is allowed and would be sent to them as quickly as possible.