Call from Eğitim-Sen following school attack in Başakşehir: Permanent steps must be taken for safe education

Eğitim-Sen has issued a written statement regarding the knife attack that occurred at a school in Istanbul's Başakşehir district. Following the incident, which left one student dead and seven others injured, the union stated that violence in schools cannot be addressed through isolated cases and called on the Ministry of National Education to take "urgent, concrete, and permanent steps."

The statement expressed condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased student and wished a speedy recovery to the injured students. Eğitim-Sen reported that they have warned the ministry many times following incidents of violence in schools in recent years, and that they have drawn attention to the structural dimensions of the safe education problem in declarations, reports, and statements they have published previously.

The union noted that "a child becoming the perpetrator of a serious act of violence against other children" cannot be explained solely by individual responsibility. The statement expressed that the conditions that expose children to violence and the reasons why protective-preventive mechanisms in the education system are not functioning must be questioned.

"SECURITY MEASURES ALONE ARE NOT THE SOLUTION"

According to Eğitim-Sen, school safety cannot be ensured solely through cameras, security guards, or police measures. The union stated that transforming schools into areas dominated by pressure and punishment is not a solution; rather, public, social, and pedagogical mechanisms must be strengthened before violence emerges.

The statement called for the assignment of a sufficient number of psychological counselors and guidance teachers in every school, and the establishment of support mechanisms that include social workers, psychologists, and relevant experts. It was emphasized that efforts to detect peer bullying, child neglect and abuse, cyberbullying, and tendencies toward violence at an early stage must be made continuous.

The union also called for reducing class sizes, increasing students' access to social, cultural, artistic, and sporting activities, and strengthening democratic participation channels where children can express themselves.

Stating that the incident in Başakşehir must be investigated in all its aspects, including possible negligence, Eğitim-Sen demanded that administrative and judicial processes be conducted transparently. The statement also expressed concern over the publication ban imposed after the incident, saying, "Hiding the facts, restricting the public's right to information, or making what happened invisible through publication bans will not eliminate the causes of violence in schools."

Eğitim-Sen stated that protecting children's right to life and right to safe education is one of the state's fundamental responsibilities, sending the message that "violence in schools can be prevented."