"We have an obligation to announce that the liaisons of the colleges had a meeting with the Minister of Interior since after many communication efforts, there was absolutely no response from the Department of Population and Immigration Archive (TAPM)", the Association states.
Specifically, as he states, “Mr. Makis Polydorou, Deputy Director of TAPM, did not pay any attention to the reasonable questions asked by the Colleges regarding the long delay in the issuance of entry permits to foreign students, on the grounds of false or incomplete documents ”.
"Because of this", it is added in the announcement, "a meeting was requested with the General Director of the Ministry of Interior, which took place in the presence of a representative of Mr. Polydoros, who once again avoided attending".
As stated, "during the meeting, the issue of the documents submitted by the students was discussed at length and it was found that the TAPM could not verify whether some of the disputed documents were genuine or forged".
"It is worth commenting on the fact that the TAPM illegally adopted harsh criteria for admitting foreign students to the Republic, which reach the limits of racism. Nowhere in the Law on Foreigners and Immigration does the Bank Statement (detailed account statement) of the prospective student appear and this practice is not found in any other country in the world except Cyprus. The Law clearly states that the student is obliged to present a "Certificate" from the bank for his ability to cover the costs of study, housing and meals in the Republic. 184 (I) / 2007, 18N 1 (f) ”, the announcement of the Association further states.
He also adds, "it is proportionally illegal to ask students to provide medical certificates for diseases other than Hepatitis B, as provided in the same article of the Law, point (d)".
Given all this, the announcement continues, "the liaisons then requested an official meeting with the Minister of Interior, who accepted. At the meeting, after explaining the whole procedure and in general what preceded, it was decided following the order of the Minister to observe safety and control rules to ensure entry permits to foreign students.
The suggestions of the Minister of Interior, according to the announcement, "were aimed at the immediate solution of the problems through the Cypriot and European Legislation, thus supporting the just demands of the Colleges, always guided by the good of the place".
The Association also states that "after an investigation by the Famagusta MP Mr. Hatzigiannis, the TAPM's harsh policy towards foreign students from third countries is confirmed once again" and adds that "the numbers speak for themselves: In Cyprus there are about 8500 students from third countries, while the occupied countries have 72,000 students ”.
"We note with regret that the Auditor General, instead of turning his eyes to the incompetence, irresponsibility and non-compliance of TAPM as well as their indifference to the fate of Private Higher Education Schools, is unfairly turning to the Minister of Interior," the statement said. .
Source: KYPE