Situation in dormitories - endless problem for students

With the beginning of the new academic year, students coming to the capital city from the regions are faced with the problem of renting an apartment. Suddenly soaring prices in the rental market, apartments with inappropriate conditions plunge most students into discouragement. In such cases, college-based student dormitories may be considered a way out. What is the situation in these hostels and do they have the necessary conditions for admitting students?

Report's staff contacted several universities regarding the matter.

According to the press secretary of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University (ASPU) Javid Huseynov, the dormitory of the university is designed for 180 people: “The rooms are spacious and double. The fee is 70 manats. The hostel has all the amenities, the building has been overhauled. Dorm rooms are available for female students only. "

The chairman of the trade union committee of students of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction (AzUAS) Bayram Aslanov said that the dormitory mainly accepts students of this university: “The hostel has the ability to accommodate 252 students. Students renting dorm rooms must be vaccinated. The building has been completely renovated. Each room has a bathroom, as well as a shared kitchen on each floor. Although the monthly fee for living in a dormitory has not yet been established this year, last year it was 40 manats. The dormitory accepts persons with a district registration, first of all, the beneficiaries are accommodated. Children of martyr families, students who have lost their parents are exempted from monthly payments. Such issues must be taken into account."

Director of the Department of Public Relations and Marketing of the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry Bahruz Nazarov stressed that the university dormitory is designed for 320 places: “During the quarantine period, the dormitory did not stop functioning, as some foreign students remained in the country. The cost of one room in a dormitory is 100 manats. If two people live in a room, then each student will pay 50 manats. In terms of conditions, this is a slightly renovated old dormitory. Work is underway to build a new one. Students who apply to the trade union are accommodated in a dormitory. Some of them are exempt from payment."

Vice-rector for social affairs, work with students and public relations of the Baku State University (BSU) Alish Agamirzoyev noted that the 5-storey "Student House" for 220 places, commissioned in January this year, is intended for both foreign and local students: “The hostel has 104 standard student rooms and 2 guest rooms. The conditions in the "Student House" meet modern standards, the rooms are equipped with the necessary furniture, household appliances, heating system. There will be a library, a conference room, a leisure room, a kitchen, a laundry room, a dining room with all the necessary equipment. The cost of maintaining the dormitory building is currently being calculated. Prices in the dormitories will be based on the students' capabilities."

Sevinj Isgandarova, press secretary of the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), noted that the campus consists of six five-storey buildings and two 14-storey dormitories for 546 beds: “In 1988-1990, IDP families lived in these buildings. There were up to 900 families of internally displaced persons living here. Currently there are 124 families in the buildings. The dormitory complex is completely destroyed. The condition of the premises does not correspond to standards. The lines of water supply, electricity and gas, as well as sewerage have been replaced by IDPs in accordance with their own needs. Once existing sports, health care and public catering facilities, as well as the adjacent roads and trees have become completely unusable.

Isgandarova noted that the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs is currently relocating IDPs living in university dormitories to new settlements, and the process continues: "After the resettlement process is completed, the dormitory will be overhauled."