What is happening in high schools? Kabataş Erkek Lisesi, Pertevniyal… Forced 'Project School' assignments for teachers!

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

Within the scope of the 'Project School' program, launched as an AKP project in 2014, schools such as Kadıköy Anadolu, Kabataş Erkek, Pertevniyal, and Cağaloğlu Anadolu High School—which are among Turkey's highest-scoring institutions attended by students in the top 1 percent—were overnight brought under the project school umbrella.

Teachers working in schools within the project scope submitted their preferences about a month ago. The results of these preferences were announced at the beginning of the week. However, the teachers were met with what could be described as a shock. Most teachers had listed the school where they were currently serving as their first choice to continue their tenure, yet they were assigned to other schools.

ALLEGATIONS THAT ‘OPPOSITION’ TEACHERS WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR SCHOOLS

It has been learned that the controversial assignments were made for teachers serving in numerous high schools, including Sakıp Sabancı Anadolu High School, Küçükçekmece Gazi Anadolu High School, Florya Tevfik Ercan Anadolu High School, Eyüp Anadolu High School, Beşiktaş Atatürk Anadolu High School, Süleyman Nazif Anadolu High School, and İzmir Atatürk High School.

According to sources reached by 12punto, a significant portion of these teachers consists of those known for their 'opposition' stance who have been serving in their schools for many years.

HIGH SCHOOLERS TAKE ACTION: ‘DON'T TOUCH MY HIGH SCHOOL!’

The removal of their teachers from their schools and their assignment to other institutions has sparked a reaction from high school students. In some schools, students held sit-in protests, while in many others, both students and alumni published statements.

'THEY ARE TAKING THOSE WHO ARE IDEOLOGICALLY SUITABLE FOR THEM...'

Eğitim-Sen Chairman Kemal Irmak, whom we consulted for his views on the matter, stated the following:

“Project Schools are schools that have been designated as such by this government for a long time. Among them are science high schools, social sciences high schools, and some old Anatolian high schools. There are prestigious high schools in various different parts of Turkey. Teachers who would work in these Project Schools used to be recruited through exams long ago. Now, they have abolished that exam system. When the term of office expires, new teachers need to be employed in these places, and while doing so, they have given the authority entirely to the principals. The Personnel Department makes the assignments in line with the information received from the principals. Many specialized teachers who have been working in these schools for years are having their duties terminated there in accordance with the powers given to these principals. Here, they have taken teachers who are somewhat in line with their own thinking and ideologically suitable for them. That is the whole issue.

What should happen is that teachers who will serve in these schools should be recruited through exams, as was the case before. If there is to be a criterion, this should be it. Can there be a criterion based on the arbitrary attitude of a principal? According to what will the principal determine this? How many teachers can a principal know in a province? Therefore, cadres whose names are already known in some way and who are members of unions close to the government are being placed in these positions. This is a movement of staffing.”

AMONG THEM IS THE HIGH SCHOOL FROM WHICH İMAMOĞLU GRADUATED

One of the schools where the controversial assignments were made is Trabzon Merkez Science High School. The historic high school, founded in 1887, is among the top schools in the region with the highest entrance scores. Another feature is that it is the alma mater of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and CHP Presidential Candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was recently arrested following the cancellation of his undergraduate diploma.

The reaction to the assignments is growing like an avalanche, especially on social media.

Not only students but also alumni are publishing condemnation statements through the associations they are members of.