National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin on 'project school' controversy: 'I see the protests as political'

National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin has made significant statements regarding the process of reassigning teachers working in project schools. Recalling that the implementation of the regulation was postponed for one year last year because performance evaluations could not be conducted, Tekin stated that the process was initiated this year in accordance with the calendar.

WE PROVIDED POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION

Highlights from Yusuf Tekin's statements are as follows:

We postponed the implementation of the regulation for one year last year because we could not yet conduct performance evaluations regarding project schools. We announced our calendar at the beginning of January this year."

"We decided to start the reassignment calendar for teachers working in these schools early so that our teacher colleagues would not face any grievances."

"We provided positive discrimination by giving these teachers the right to transfer before the reassignment process for our other teachers began," he said.

Stating that there are 38 thousand teachers on the announced list, Minister Tekin said, "80 percent of the 38 thousand teachers have been reassigned."

''NO ONE SHOULD MESS WITH THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTRY FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL CAREER''

Responding to criticisms from the opposition, Tekin said, “A political party leader comes out and uses the term 'seize.' Who are we seizing what from? We are the Ministry of National Education. No one should mess with the children of this country for their own political career. They should not harm Turkish democracy,” he expressed. Addressing the statements of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Tekin added, “Unofficial rhetoric also harms the CHP.”

REJECTED ALLEGATIONS OF 'EXILE'

Speaking about the allegations that teachers were being 'exiled,' Tekin said, "Is every place in this country not our land? What does exile mean? The allegations are not true. There is no such thing," he said.

'THE PROTESTS WERE NOT ORGANIZED BY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS'

Speaking about the protests held in high schools, Minister Tekin stated that actions were organized in around 20 schools across the country, and expressed that the vast majority of these protest demonstrations were not organized by students and teachers.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A teacher appointment crisis is taking place in Turkey's most successful high schools. The Ministry of National Education (MEB) has implemented appointments and reassignments for teachers working in these high schools, also known as project schools.

This practice, which includes schools such as Kadıköy Anadolu, Kabataş Erkek, Şehremeni Anadolu, İstanbul Sosyal, Kartal Anadolu, Burak Bora Anadolu, and Çanakkale Fen Lisesi, has caused a stir.

The termination of duties and the reassignment of teachers and school administrators to 'norm surplus' status against their will is being met with backlash.

STUDENTS SUPPORTED THEIR TEACHERS

Students who received the news that they would be separated from their teachers began "Don't touch my teacher" protests.

In Ankara, students at Betül Can Anadolu High School protested the appointments by not attending the first lesson.

Students and alumni of Ankara Gazi Anadolu High School, where 39 out of 59 teachers are set to be transferred, are also protesting the decision.

Students at Istanbul Vefa High School held a sit-in in the school courtyard for their teachers whose duty stations were changed without justification.

Vefa High School alumni gathered in front of the school to support the students.

Students at Istanbul Florya Tevfik Ercan Anadolu High School also started a sit-in in the school courtyard, not attending classes while holding signs and chanting slogans.

Students at İzmir Atatürk High School also started a sit-in in the school courtyard. The students are continuing their actions despite warnings from the school administration to "go into the classrooms."

News Source: 12punto