The President of the Republic returned to Parliament without publishing the diploma on the accommodation allowance for students in higher education, saying that it contradicted another existing regime and could cause “unwanted social costs” for many students.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “returned to the Assembly of the Republic, without publication, the Decree approving the legal regime for the additional accommodation of displaced students of higher education institutions,” the official website of the President of the Republic reported this Wednesday.
This concerns Decree No. 11/XVI of the Assembly of the Republic, which the President of the Republic recognises as having “indisputable relevance and social and political justice”, but which is contrary to another regime.
In a letter sent to the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stresses that the issue deserves “clarity in its legal regime” and that the diploma, which was submitted for publication “only in August”, will come into force on January 1, 2025.
However, the government has already approved a legal regime on the same issue, “which has already entered into force and is subject to application with the upcoming start of the 2024-2025 academic year.”
The two regimes – the one approved by the government and in force, and the one approved by the Assembly of the Republic – “contradict each other”, which is why Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa vetoed the decree of the Assembly of the Republic.
“I am returning without publication (…) Decree of the Assembly of the Republic No. 11/XVI “Legal regime for additional accommodation of displaced students of higher education institutions”, requiring consideration of the convenience of accommodation for the next academic year, “two successive different regimes or, at least, to avoid potential legal uncertainty, at least in the period from September 2024 to January 2025, with undesirable social costs for a large number of students of higher education institutions,” the president said in a letter sent to the AP.
The lack of affordable housing for students in higher education is considered a major issue for families, preventing many students from continuing their education.
At the first stage of the competition for access to higher education, almost 50 thousand students were employed in universities and polytechnic institutes; the registration process in higher education institutions is currently underway.
The government launched a national accommodation plan to increase supply at affordable prices, but the number of available places is far below demand and average room prices have risen again this year.
In recent years, the importance of students studying away from home and having difficulty paying for their accommodation has also gradually increased.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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