Parents Demand Reopening of İzmir High School After Renovations Complete

Parents of Mehmet Akif İnan Anadolu High School in İzmir have gathered to protest its continued closure, demanding that the institution be reopened to students. Despite the completion of renovation work, students have been unable to return to their classrooms, prompting the parents' urgent call: "Don't close our school, give our school back to its students."

The parents emphasized that Mehmet Akif İnan Anadolu High School is more than just a building; it is a well-established educational institution recognized for its academic and scientific successes. They highlighted the school's impressive track record, noting that all 14 projects submitted to TÜBİTAK for the 2024-2025 academic year were accepted, and 16 out of 17 projects for 2025-2026 received support. These projects, including an intelligent life jacket, a smart bracelet for victims of violence, and natural purification systems, have been showcased by TÜBİTAK for their societal benefit.

School renovations began in October 2025, with parents initially showing understanding for the need for safer educational conditions. However, they state that the renovation and improvement works are finished, including the replacement of sewage connections and resolution of toilet issues. Despite this, students remain unable to return. Officials have cited a remaining deficit of only one sink and one toilet, and the school's location within a protected historical site, preventing further construction.

Parents find this explanation contradictory, questioning how a science high school was built on the same campus if site restrictions prevent additional construction. They are seeking solutions, not contradictions, and pointed to the Ministry of National Education's Secondary Education Institutions Regulation from July 3, 2026. This regulation emphasizes that schools are evaluated not only on academic success but also on scientific projects, social and cultural activities, and national/international achievements, criteria the Mehmet Akif İnan Anadolu High School demonstrably meets.