Turkey's Eğitim-İş Union Calls 2-Day Strike After Deadly School Shooting

The shocking armed attack at Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Siverek, Şanlıurfa, which left 16 people injured and the perpetrator dead, has sent waves of fear and anger through Turkey's education community. This tragic event, perpetrated by a former student, underscores a grave crisis in school security that the Eğitim-İş union has long warned about.

“

Enough is enough. We are stopping work for 2 days. Our call is to all education workers, unions, and our people.

In a powerful display of solidarity and protest, Eğitim-İş has called for a two-day nationwide work stoppage, beginning April 15. Union leader Kadem Özbay issued a stark declaration: "Enough is enough. We are stopping work for 2 days. Our call is to all education workers, unions, and our people." This action is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a demand for immediate and concrete measures to ensure the safety of students and educators.

“

The armed attack in Siverek, Şanlıurfa, is a clear announcement that security in schools has collapsed. Teachers are being killed and students are being injured in schools, which should be the safest places. This is unacceptable!

The union's demands are clear and comprehensive: the deployment of permanent security guards at school entrances, adequate numbers of guidance counselors and psychosocial support staff, infirmaries with healthcare personnel in every school, and permanent cleaning staff. They also call for reducing class sizes, building new schools, and creating a secure educational environment. Özbay directly challenged Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, stating that his continued tenure amidst such violence is unacceptable and demanding his resignation.

“

This system, where teachers are devalued, young people are left without a future, and schools are left insecure, is the irresponsibility of those in charge. Despite our repeated warnings and prior notification of risks in schools to the authorities, the failure to take necessary measures clearly reveals those responsible for this situation.

This incident and the subsequent union action highlight a critical disconnect between the government's actions and the realities faced by educators and students. While the article details the immediate tragedy and the union's response, the broader context in Turkey involves ongoing debates about violence in society and its spillover into educational institutions. The union's perspective emphasizes that this is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a systemic failure to prioritize safety and value the education sector. The planned protests in Ankara and provincial education directorates aim to force a reckoning with these issues, demanding that the authorities finally take responsibility.

“

Our demands are clear: Permanent security guards at school entrances. Sufficient guidance counselors and psychosocial support. An infirmary, health services, and health personnel in every school. Permanent cleaning staff. Reducing crowded classes, building new schools, and a secure educational environment.