KTÖS: Temporary Container Classrooms Have Become Permanent

The Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) held a press conference titled “The State of Public Education in Northern Cyprus.”

The meeting, which focused on the problems facing public education and presented scientifically based proposals for solutions, was held today at the KTÖS Conference Hall.

Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Şifa Çolakoğlu, Independent MPs Ayşegül Baybars and Jale Refik Rogers, as well as representatives of several political parties and trade unions, attended the press conference.

KTÖS President Mustafa Baybora delivered the opening remarks, followed by a speech by Secretary-General Burak Maviş and a presentation by Education Secretary Süleyman Gelener. KTÖS publications on its education policies were also shared with members of the press.

MUSTAFA BAYBORA: TEACHERS ARE THE ENLIGHTENED FACE OF SOCIETY

KTÖS President Mustafa Baybora claimed that the country had been poorly governed for some time and said it had become associated with “fake diplomas, cronyism and corruption.”

Accusing the Education Minister of focusing on stripping teachers of their rights and undermining their reputation rather than discussing the quality of education, Baybora stressed that teachers were the enlightened face of society and would continue to defend science and knowledge.

Baybora added that they would continue to highlight problems in education and put forward proposals for solutions.

SÜLEYMAN GELENER: TEMPORARY CONTAINER CLASSROOMS HAVE BECOME PERMANENT

Following Baybora’s remarks, KTÖS Education Secretary Süleyman Gelener delivered a presentation.

Saying that the same problems were being discussed every year, Gelener attributed them to “poor governance.”

Gelener said problems at schools were known months before the start of the academic year. In his presentation, he identified five main issues — “construction and renovation works, overcrowded schools, support staff, foreign students and school-parent agreements” — and provided details on each.

Gelener said education and construction work would be carried out simultaneously at at least 44 schools during the new academic year, criticising the fact that “container classrooms described as temporary have become permanent.”

He said student numbers exceeded the modern norm of an average of 20 students in 70% of classrooms, adding that similar problems existed in kindergartens and special education schools.

Emphasising the need for support staff in schools, Gelener highlighted shortages of special education and guidance teachers. He criticised the Ministry of Education for opening a vacancy for only one guidance teacher for the new academic year.

Gelener also criticised the requirement for foreign students who do not speak Turkish to obtain a Turkish Proficiency Certificate. He claimed the government had failed to plan for the education of foreign children and had shifted responsibility onto their families.

Claiming that some children of compulsory school age who do not speak Turkish were being left out of education and rendered invisible, Gelener alleged that these children were being pushed towards child labour, abuse, violence and crime.

Gelener also addressed the importance of school-parent agreements, saying that a safe school environment could not be ensured if relations between schools and parents remained unregulated.

Gelener concluded his presentation by saying KTÖS would continue to make problems in education visible and develop evidence-based solutions.

BURAK MAVİŞ: THERE IS SERIOUS RENT-SEEKING IN OUTSOURCED SERVICES

Following the presentation, KTÖS Secretary-General Burak Maviş addressed the meeting.

Citing examples from several countries regarding education and child welfare, Maviş said, “We need to turn our faces towards Europe.”

Maviş said the poverty and hunger thresholds were known but the wealth threshold was not, pointing to recent “price hikes and the rising cost of living.”

Noting that the start of the school year was approaching, Maviş referred to back-to-school expenses and “registration fees” charged by some state schools.

Maviş reiterated that some schools were charging registration fees despite the Ministry’s statement that no such fees were being collected, stressing the importance of allocating budgets to schools.

Maviş said some children went hungry, particularly on days when full-day education was provided. He also claimed that school cleaning services were being outsourced through tenders and that there was “serious rent-seeking” involved.

Maviş also addressed the “Süleymancılar” religious community, claiming that it targeted low-income families and calling on the Ministry to take action on the issue.