What happened to the "Student Friendly Aid" promised by the TRNC government to students in the country? Was it a faux?

Ada Card, a kind of credit card for students in north Cyprus introduced by the TRNC government through the Ministry of Education within the scope of the Student Friendly Island Project, was launched in December, 2021, more than one year after the idea was first conceived but today, there is nothing like that in existence.

Protocol signing ceremony for the "Student Friendly Island Project" aimed at providing better living conditions for all university students studying in north Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots studying abroad, was held in July, 2020.

The scope of the Student Friendly Island Project, a state project, was aimed at facilitating the living conditions of students studying in the island and to make north Cyprus a country preferred by students. The project also aim to create a discount system that Turkish Cypriot students studying abroad and all university students studying in north Cyprus can use in their shopping. 

Within the scope of the Project, 500 TL will be provided to all students who will register to north Cyprus universities and who will receive this card.  

With the card, students can gain a lot from universities, markets, real estate agents, clothing, be able to gain discounts from their Ada Card purchases at contracted workplaces, benefit from various campaigns, and make their payments by scanning the QR code with the latest technology on their mobile phones, pay fees, withdraw money from the ATMs and branches, be able to instantly send money from Hepi Student mobile wallets to all other Hepi Student users only via their mobile phone number.

To this effect, the government promised to contribute 5 million TL per year to the service of this card. 

The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ersin Tatar at the time, claimed that the reason for this project was to boost and change the image of the TRNC abroad as the country was getting negative feedback as a difficult place to live and study in.  

Work on the project with the Cooperative Central Bank was concluded on July, 24, 2020 and a protocol signed. 

More than one year later, the Minister of Education and Culture, Olgun Amcaoğlu in a ceremony on December, 22, 2021 announced the introduction of the card. At the end of the event, Ada Cards were presented to students. Since then, nothing has been heard or seen of the card.

The reality on ground is that the TRNC has become a much more difficult and expensive place to live in due to ever rising inflation.

The rate at which the Turkish Lira is crashing at the international market is alarming that at the moment, 500 Turkish Lira cant get you a nice home cooked meal. Bills are outrageous, transportation has increased, resident permit processing has increased, rents are up with majority of landlords demanding to be paid in Pounds and for a period of at least 6 months. 

Many students who want to work can't find work and some of those who managed to find are not being paid. Many took to crime due to frustration, while many are living from hand to mouth. Majority of the blame here can be directed at study agents who tell prospective students lies about what is and what is not about the island but then the government to fulfill the promise it made to students. 

With the introduction of the card, the economic burden brought about by the always rising inflation can be reduced to an extent.

Universities should also do more to offer students with good grades scholarships.

Landlords should accept rents in Turkish Lira and at a reduced cost. The government should try and see to this too. 

Let it not be that the project was some kind of public stunt to get students to the island.