KTÖS: Rising Violence And Bullying In Schools A Serious Warning

Maviş said only 26 Psychological Counselling and Guidance (PDR) teachers were working across 110 schools under the Department of Primary Education, meaning there was approximately one counsellor for every 850 students.

He said the problem was structural and could not be resolved by placing responsibility solely on children, families or teachers, stressing that a solution required public responsibility.

“ONLY 26 PDR TEACHERS WORK IN 110 SCHOOLS”

Maviş said only 26 PDR teachers appointed by the Public Service Commission were working in the 110 schools under the Department of Primary Education.

He argued that the ratio was far below those in Europe, the OECD, Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus, questioning why only one PDR teaching position had been opened despite the clear need for additional staff.

“WHO PREVENTED YOU FROM OPENING MORE POSITIONS?”

Addressing Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Maviş asked, “Who prevented you from opening more positions?”

Maviş recalled that Çavuşoğlu had previously accused KTÖS on television programmes and in Parliament of preventing the recruitment of guidance teachers for primary schools.

He questioned who was responsible for the decision to recruit only one PDR teacher this year.

“So is KTÖS the one telling you today to recruit only one PDR teacher? If not, who is responsible for this decision?” Maviş asked.

“BEARING THE BURDEN OF EDUCATION MEANS MEETING SCHOOLS’ REAL NEEDS”

Maviş said carrying the burden of education did not mean making unfounded statements on television but meeting the actual needs of schools.

He stressed that the issue was not limited to the shortage of PDR teachers.

Maviş argued that political rhetoric that discredits teachers, targets education workers and blames teachers for every problem in schools also contributes to a climate of violence.

He said an approach that isolates teachers could not strengthen schools, describing political rhetoric targeting teachers as both wrong and irresponsible.

“THE CAUSES OF VIOLENCE ARE MULTIDIMENSIONAL”

Maviş said violence in schools had multiple causes, including inadequate counselling and psychosocial support services, school security and infrastructure problems, socio-economic inequalities, an exam-focused education system and shortcomings in cooperation between schools and families.

He said viewing violence solely as a disciplinary problem was a serious mistake, stressing that the solution was to strengthen the education system rather than blame children.

“SUFFICIENT PDR TEACHERS MUST BE EMPLOYED”

Maviş called for sufficient numbers of PDR teachers to be employed in schools, continuous psychosocial support mechanisms to be established, safe and healthy learning environments to be created and child-centred education policies to be implemented.

He also said introducing a school-family agreement had become an unavoidable necessity and should no longer be delayed.

“VIOLENCE CAN BE PREVENTED”

Maviş said violence in schools could be prevented, but this required education policies based on scientific evidence and accountability rather than rhetoric and blame.

He warned that every measure not taken today could lead to more serious consequences in the future.