A total of 16,569 students took the first session of the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), organized by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), across 30 exam centers in Alanya. Candidates flocked to the exam centers from the early morning and were admitted to the halls after identity and document checks.
Amina Ozova, a student at Alanya Oba Nazmi Yılmaz Anatolian High School and a Russian national, came to ALKÜ Faculty of Engineering to take the exam but was not allowed to enter because her residence permit was not marked as 'long-term'. Ozova broke down in tears over the situation.
"My four years of effort are wasted"
Amina Ozova expressed her disappointment with these words: "I have been preparing for the YKS exam for four years. I came to take the exam today, but they did not let me in. Because my ID is short-term, they require a long-term ID. The school never informed us about this. A year of my life has gone to waste. I want to go to medical school, but they won't let me take the exam. I don't know what to do."
Ozova added that the school had not provided any information about not being able to take the exam with a short-term residence permit.
Families wait anxiously
While the students sweated it out in the exam halls, their families continued their vigil with prayers in schoolyards and surrounding areas. Gazi Akça, 54, who brought his daughter to the exam, wished success to all candidates.
Akça said, "Today we embarked on a hopeful journey for our children. Hopefully, it will be auspicious for them as well. We are always behind our children. We strive for them to become good citizens for their country and nation. We wish all students taking the exam good luck and successful results."
