CHP deputy challenges Minister Yusuf Tekin: 'The future of a generation is darkening'

Hundreds of thousands of children who are of school age but have been left outside the education system have been brought to the Parliament's agenda. CHP Edirne Deputy Ahmet Baran Yazgan posed pointed questions to Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin: "How many children of compulsory education age are not attending school?"

The deepening economic crisis and social fractures in Turkey have also caused a massive hole in the education system. CHP Edirne Deputy Ahmet Baran Yazgan dedicated his 100th parliamentary question in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to children whose most fundamental rights have been taken away and who have never seen the inside of a school despite the school bell ringing.

"THE CONSTITUTION IS BEING VIOLATED, PRIMARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ARE DROPPING OUT"

Stating that equality of opportunity in education has completely vanished and that field data is sounding the alarm, Yazgan pointed to Article 42 of the Constitution and leveled harsh criticisms at the government. The CHP deputy stated that the country is on the verge of a social collapse and used the following expressions:

"Primary education is mandatory for all our citizens, both girls and boys. However, the fact that even our children of primary school age are dropping out of school or are unable to even take a step into education means that the future of an entire generation is darkening. The economic crisis, child labor, and social exclusion have struck the education system."

"CIVIL ADMINISTRATORS AND FAMILIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PICTURE"

Reminding of the legal regulations, Yazgan recalled that according to the Primary Education and Training Law No. 222, it is not only families but also civil administrators and educational oversight mechanisms that are legally responsible for ensuring children continue their education. Arguing that social support networks must be activated immediately, Yazgan called for the early detection of children at risk.

"QUESTIONS POSED TO MINISTER YUSUF TEKİN"

Yazgan knocked on the door of Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin and demanded official answers to the following critical questions:

•What is the number of children across Turkey who are of compulsory education age but are not enrolled in any formal education?

•What is the distribution of these children who have never seen the inside of a school by city and gender?

•What are the main reasons behind our children remaining out of school? How much do child labor and seasonal agricultural work affect this picture?

•What efforts are being made to find children who have never stepped into the education system?

•What penal sanctions are applied to parents who do not send their children to school, and what projects are being carried out to win these children back?

News Source: 12punto