CHP's 'Education Marathon' meeting concludes

The 24-hour "Education Marathon" meeting organized by the CHP, where issues and proposals regarding education were brought to the agenda, has concluded.

The meeting, which began yesterday at 10:00 AM at Anıtpark, ended today at the same time after 24 hours.

Speaking at a press conference following the meeting, CHP Deputy Chairman Suat Özçağdaş stated that they are demanding the withdrawal of the program proposal titled "Turkey Century Maarif Model."

Özçağdaş said, "Form a new board consisting of Turkey's respected academics, we will provide all kinds of support with needs analyses, and let's change whatever needs to be changed."

Stating that preschool education should be mandatory for at least 1 year and completely free of charge, Özçağdaş said the following:

"Bring all institutions providing early childhood education under ministry supervision. Cancel open education for the middle school level. Ensure that children stay in school and put an end to ghost students. End the practice of bused education. Prevent 1.2 million children from being scattered here and there every day. Improve the conditions of boarding schools and direct children who do not have access to school to these schools. Open village schools."

ASSIGN AT LEAST 1 HEALTH PERSONNEL TO EVERY SCHOOL

Pointing out that there should be at least 1 permanent security guard and at least 1 health personnel in every school, and that every student should be given 1 free meal at all levels, Özçağdaş noted the following:

"Put an end to donations collected from parents at all levels. Reopen faculties that train teachers for vocational and technical education. Rapidly restructure laboratories and workshops in vocational and technical schools according to the requirements of the age. Appoint as many teachers as there is a real need for, but do it as in the Constitution. Do it with merit, not with interviews; do it as civil servants, not with contracts."

Arguing that the quotas of education faculties should be revised according to needs, Özçağdaş said that the formation practice should be abandoned in fields that have teacher training programs.

Addressing Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Özçağdaş said, "Mr. Minister, there is much that can be done. I hope this 24-hour work we have done, although my hope is low, will lead to some things changing. I have made a very clear call, I have counted nearly 60 items, come let's discuss them."

PUBLIC MEETINGS IN 21 PROVINCES

Stating that they will hold public meetings in 21 provinces governed by the CHP starting from the beginning of August, Özçağdaş said, "In similar events, we will come together with our students, teachers, parents, mothers, fathers, grandparents, unionists, and academics from 7 to 77 in the evening hours. We will ask them what they expect from education."

Following his speech, Özçağdaş took a commemorative photo with those who attended the meeting.

THE OUTCOMES OF THE MEETING WILL BE PUBLISHED AS A BOOK

At the meeting organized by the CHP, names including deputy chairmen, mayors, members of parliament, academics, educators, and union representatives gave thematic speeches in their respective fields.

It is planned that the outcomes of the "Education Marathon" meeting will be compiled into a book by CHP education staff.