Turkish teachers' union: Schools no longer safe as education system 'liquidated'

The Eğitim-İş union's Sinop branch president, Celal Şahbenderoğlu, has declared that schools in Turkey have ceased to be safe sanctuaries for children and educators. Speaking as part of a nationwide press statement by the union, Şahbenderoğlu asserted that secular, scientific, and public education is being "deliberately liquidated."

Şahbenderoğlu argued that the problems plaguing the education system can no longer be attributed to mere management errors or insufficient budgets. He directly criticized the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, stating, "Mr. Yusuf Tekin, you tell fairy tales from the podiums, while we carry our dead from the schools. While you appear before the cameras telling success stories, the education world of this country is bleeding."

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Mr. Yusuf Tekin, you tell fairy tales from the podiums, while we carry our dead from the schools. While you appear before the cameras telling success stories, the education world of this country is bleeding.

The union leader highlighted the severe economic impact on students, reporting that "one in five children is not adequately nourished, and 19% of students go hungry due to economic insufficiency." Despite this critical situation, Şahbenderoğlu noted that the demand for providing at least one free meal per day in schools has been rejected.

These statements reflect a growing concern among educators and unions regarding the state of education in Turkey, pointing to systemic issues exacerbated by economic hardship and perceived policy failures. The union aims to draw public attention to these challenges and advocate for a return to principles of secular, scientific, and accessible public education.

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One in five children is not adequately nourished, and 19% of students go hungry due to economic insufficiency.