TKP statement on co-education: We will stop those targeting it

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has reacted to reports and headlines in media outlets close to the government that include calls for an end to co-education. In a statement issued by the party, it was declared that they would fight against initiatives targeting co-education.

The statement said, "Co-education has already been riddled with holes by the opening of middle schools for girls only in exactly 8 cities. We will stop those who target co-education."

The TKP argued that policies regarding schools during the tenure of Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin have weakened the principle of secular and public education. The statement alleged that calls in some media outlets for "an end to co-education" draw strength from Minister Tekin's previous remarks regarding girls' schools.

Emphasis on children out of education

Citing data from the Eğitim-İş union, the party's statement noted that the number of children of compulsory education age who were not attending formal education in the 2023-2024 academic year was approximately 612 thousand 814. It was noted that this figure increased by 38.4 percent compared to the previous term and is estimated to have reached higher levels today.

The statement further reported that 53.6 percent of children out of education were boys and 46.4 percent were girls. It was argued that boys are kept away from education mostly due to economic reasons, while girls are kept away due to early forced marriage, domestic burdens, and reactionary policies.

Recalling that the opening of a middle school exclusively for girls in the Dikmen neighborhood of Ankara's Çankaya district last year drew public backlash, the TKP claimed that similar practices exist in other cities as well.

The statement concluded with the words, "This reactionary attack must be repelled, and this initiative, which is an enemy of the Republic, secularism, and above all, an enemy of children, must be stopped."

News Source: 12punto