Protest by teachers awaiting appointment: 'Minister Yusuf Tekin must be held accountable'

Hundreds of teacher candidates, reacting to the appointment of only 15 thousand teachers following the 2024 KPSS, gathered at Ankara Ulus Square to stage a striking protest. Wishing to convey the message that "the education system and the teaching profession are dead," the teachers brought a symbolic coffin to the front of the Ulus Victory Monument and held an "absentia funeral prayer."

The teachers, who arrived in black clothing, placed the result documents of some of their friends who had received high scores and ranked in the exams inside the coffin. The mothers of the unappointed teachers placed carnations on the coffin. During the demonstration, black balloons were released into the sky. In the protest, the teachers addressed Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, stating that they did not grant him their blessing.

"THIS IS NOT JUST A PROTEST, IT IS A STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE"

Saime Turgut, who made the statement on behalf of the teacher candidates, stated that it is a great injustice that many candidates who received high scores in the KPSS were not appointed. Turgut said, "We are not gathered here today with hope, but in the aftermath of a massacre," and expressed the following:

"Even teacher candidates who spent years preparing for the KPSS and ranked in the exams cannot be appointed. This situation is dire both in terms of professional injustice and the future of education. A system abandoned to paid teaching lowers the prestige of the teaching profession. We teachers do not give up, because if we give up, the tomorrows of this country will also give up. If we do not have a blackboard, the megaphone is our voice."

"MERIT, NOT INTERVIEWS, SHOULD BE THE BASIS"

The demands of the teachers were also listed in the statement:

At least as many additional appointments should be made as the number of paid teachers.

Branch quotas should be distributed fairly and according to need.

Interviews should be abolished, and merit should be the basis.

The appointment process should be carried out in a planned and transparent manner.

CHP'S ÖZÇAĞDAŞ: "PAID TEACHER MEANS PAID SLAVE"

CHP Deputy Chairman Suat Özçağdaş also supported the teachers and participated in the protest. Criticizing the government's policies in harsh language, Özçağdaş defined paid teaching as "modern slavery" and used the following expressions:

"There are nearly 100 thousand paid teachers working for 11-13 thousand lira salaries in Istanbul. Is there a paid doctor or a paid pilot? No. Why is education viewed so disparagingly? If there are 100 thousand paid teachers, there is a shortage of 100 thousand teachers in this country. You will appoint 100 thousand teachers, not 15 thousand, my brother."

"THE MINISTER WHO CALLED AN INTERVIEW VICTIM A 'MEGALOMANIAC' MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE"

Reacting to Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin calling a teacher who opposed the interview system a "megalomaniac," Özçağdaş continued his words as follows:

"The government, which said it would abolish interviews, is shamelessly imposing the interview system again. Calling a teacher who seeks their rights a 'megalomaniac' is an insult to this profession. There will be no bright future for this country with this education system."