Allegations of 'public loss and administrative negligence' in education: Mafia-like network continues to commit crimes
12punto had previously brought to light allegations of irregularities in the use of public resources, suspicious appointments, and a group of officials surrounding educational institutions with a "mafia-like network" in the Çamlıyayla district of Mersin. In addition to this, a new allegation of "public loss" in the district's education sector is being discussed.
12punto
Cenk Başboğaoğlu - 12punto.com.tr
An investigation had been launched against Abdullah Cankara, Principal of Çamlıyayla Kasım Ekenler Multi-Program Anatolian High School in Mersin, after he voiced irregularities within the District Directorate of National Education.
According to 12punto's report, there were serious accusations against Acting Çamlıyayla District Director of National Education İsmail Bahadır Çetin and Acting Branch Manager Mehmet Ağar, including "misconduct in office," "consumption of public resources for personal and political gain," and "mobbing against teachers."
12punto has obtained new information that brings the education bureaucracy in the district back into the center of controversy.
IMAGINARY MESSAGE IN THE BRANCH MANAGER'S SEAT
It is alleged that Abdurrahman Akbuğa, Çamlıyayla District National Education Branch Manager, has spent the approximately 7-month period since January 2026 almost entirely on medical reports and leave.
While it is legally impossible under regulations to use medical reports or leave again without actually starting a duty, it is stated that Akbuğa has been exploiting a loophole in the system by taking leave in five-day periods.
Moreover, while Akbuğa continues to receive his full-time branch manager salary during this process, the fact that teacher Mehmet Ağar, who was appointed as his proxy, also receives additional course fees confirms that a clear public loss has been created within the institution.
THE DIRECTOR, THE PROXY, AND 'UNQUESTIONABLE' NEGLIGENCE
According to the information obtained, Acting District Director of National Education İsmail Bahadır Çetin, far from questioning Branch Manager Akbuğa's traffic of medical reports and leave, ignores this situation and completely disables the administrative oversight mechanism.
According to the allegations, it is stated that Çetin, who turns a blind eye to these irregularities in order to ensure that Mehmet Ağar continues to sit in the acting branch manager's seat, has committed the crime of misconduct in office and has turned institutional resources into an area of political rent.
On the other hand, Ağar is known for his closeness to the AKP and MHP. It was learned that there are complaints from some parents regarding Ağar, who is also the Eğitim-Bir-Sen Çamlıyayla District Representative, stating, "We entrust our children to the state dormitory, but Mehmet Ağar takes our children to the Ülkü Ocakları (Idealist Hearths) for training every night, and takes them to MHP election rallies during election periods."
CONTINUES DESPITE THE EXPIRATION OF THE GOVERNORSHIP APPOINTMENT
The controversies regarding Mehmet Ağar are not limited to this. It is stated that despite the fact that Ağar's governorship appointment expired as of March, he continues to be kept in his seat irregularly by the district governor's office and has continued to receive additional course fees unfairly during this period.
It is very clear that this situation paves the way for another public loss by exceeding the limits of authority.
THE SHADOW OF INSTITUTIONAL POLITICS AND LACK OF OVERSIGHT
In line with all these events, the allegations that the Çamlıyayla District Directorate of National Education is managed almost like a "private farm" by AKP District Chairman Durmuş Karataş and his deputy Ahmet Küçük are a prevailing view among educators in the region, and this situation is dragging the educational climate into darkness.
In addition to what we covered in our previous report—the roles of these individuals in public tenders and the fact that AKP-affiliated names are placed at the forefront of paid teaching assignments despite not meeting the requirements—the new developments reveal how the AKP-MHP alliance has besieged district education.
The former District Governor Veli Avcı's months of silence regarding what happened and Provincial Director of National Education Muhammed Özdemirci's failure to initiate concrete legal action despite being aware of the events, settling only for verbal warnings, are cited as those responsible for this lack of oversight.
Furthermore, the fact that no legal process has been initiated despite Çamlıyayla Mayor Mehmet Fatih Sofu personally reporting these irregularities in the district to the district governor twice makes the blockage in the system and the corrupt network felt with all its weight.