4461 eligible students of the University of Cagliari remain without the scholarship . This is what emerges from the rankings published in recent days on the Ersu website, which see only 2708 beneficiaries, just 38% of applicants in compliance with the merit and income requirements.
The Progressives underline the situation: «It is not admissible», says the group leader in the Regional Council Francesco Agus. «Here we are talking about students who in many cases will not be able to start or continue their studies ».
According to the group, Ersu's justifications are also unacceptable, which speaks of changes in the ranking that will occur when the resources of the Pnrr and the State Supplementary Fund are transferred. «The resources intended for scholarships», explain the Progressists, «are financed not only by regional funds in state participation: resources which, as happened last year, have not yet been transferred and for which, to date, no there is no timing or certainty."
The critical issue takes on an urgent nature, considering the growing costs for rent (a room in Cagliari exceeds 350 euros per month), food, transport and living expenses. «All this», adds Agus, « in a Region that sees more and more families in very serious crisis and where it is complicated and expensive for students without income and support to maintain their studies. Another fact to take into consideration is the increase in requests for scholarships, further confirmation of the impoverishment of families and Sardinian society."
It therefore becomes crucial to move promptly: «We need to intervene immediately», warns deputy Francesca Ghirra. «For this reason we will request timely intervention from the Ministry of the University so that the resources are transferred as soon as possible. We will use all parliamentary prerogatives to ensure that the situation is resolved as soon as possible. It is not acceptable", he underlines, "that due to a buck-passing between institutions, which among other things are governed by the same political party, young male and female students are the ones who lose out. Last year the resources arrived in March, thinking that everyone is able to anticipate the expenses is like living on the moon ."
The move that the Progressives propose is that of a budget change . A package of amendments is being studied that allows resources to be allocated to pay the first installment of the scholarship to all deserving candidates (from Cagliari, but also from Sassari), anticipating the funds that would be covered by the State for the second instalment.
A line also shared by the Democratic Party. Regional councilor Roberto Deriu spoke on the topic: « The Region must reassure and immediately declare all students eligible for the scholarships as beneficiaries », he warns, «so as to give certainty to thousands of university students who, without the contribution, would see their academic path. For four years, Ersu and the Sardinia Region have been publishing the definitive rankings for the granting of scholarships with many eligible non-beneficiary students, and then declaring the coverage of all the scholarships only in the following months , with the first installment being paid on December 31st. This", he concludes, "is a sad habit that needs to be reversed, because many of these university students, without the certainty of the contribution, are forced to finish their studies due to economic difficulties or other related problems".
(Unioneonline/L.Ne.)