CHP's İlgezdi criticizes Ministry of National Education over 'gold-leaf letters': 'Austerity for school transport and meals...'

CHP Istanbul MP Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi claimed in a written statement that 21 million liras were spent on letters sent to first, fifth, and ninth-grade students signed by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin. 

İlgezdi reacted by saying, "While letters signed by the Minister were printed as simple documents in previous years, they were printed on colorful, thick, and gold-leaf paper this year despite austerity measures." İlgezdi continued her remarks with the following statements:

"The letters from the Minister, which were given to students as simple printouts in previous years, were prepared and delivered this year in envelopes with colorful, thick, and gold-leaf printed paper, despite austerity measures.

I obtained price quotes from printing houses for the letters prepared for students starting first, fifth, and ninth grades. The cost per unit is 5 liras on average, including VAT.

According to the Ministry of National Education's statistical yearbook, the number of students in these three grades in the 2022-2023 academic year was 4 million 209 thousand 484. It is certain that we have many more children this year.

'AUSTERITY WHEN IT COMES TO MEALS AND TRANSPORT, GOLD-LEAF LETTERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAARIF MODEL'

When we calculate based on this number, a figure of more than 21 million emerges. Austerity when it comes to meals, transport, and cleaning; gold-leaf letters when it comes to the Century of Turkey and the Maarif model. This is the true face of the AKP.

The Ministry of National Education, which has canceled school transport services under the pretext of austerity measures, eliminated the one-meal-a-day program for preschools, and does not employ cleaning staff in schools, has opened its purse strings when it comes to the new Maarif model and the promotion of the Century of Turkey.

Despite the circular on austerity measures, they have squandered millions of liras. I wonder which crony was enriched by the preparation of these letters?"

Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi also brought the issue to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Submitting a parliamentary question to Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, İlgezdi asked the following questions:

"How many letters signed by the Minister were printed? How much was paid for the design of the letters? How much did the Ministry pay to have these letters produced? Was a tender opened for the letters? Through what procedure and to which firm was the work awarded? Were the letters printed in a single center? How were they distributed to schools in the provinces? What is the total cost of transportation? Instead of sending gold-leaf, thick, and high-quality printed letters to more than 2 million students individually, could a simple printout not have been provided as in previous years?"