According to Türk Eğitim-Sen, the number of paid teachers exceeded 86 thousand in 78 provinces

Istanbul, the most populous province, once again had the highest number of paid teachers this year. According to the research, the number of paid teachers working in Istanbul was determined to be 19 thousand 757. Istanbul was followed by Şanlıurfa with 5 thousand 283, Gaziantep with 3 thousand 714, Ankara with 3 thousand 660, İzmir with 3 thousand 275, Hatay with 2 thousand 374, Kocaeli with 2 thousand 300, Diyarbakır with 2 thousand 119, Antalya with 1 thousand 789, Van with 1 thousand 763, Mardin with 1 thousand 736, Kahramanmaraş with 1 thousand 757, and Ağrı with 1 thousand 666.

In the research conducted in line with data from 78 provincial governorships, it was determined that 38 thousand 602 of the paid teachers were graduates of faculties of education, 39 thousand 463 were bachelor's degree graduates, and 8 thousand 71 were associate degree graduates.

BY THE FIELDS THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO...

In the research, it was observed that 8 thousand 726 of the paid teachers worked in preschool education. It was determined that 5 thousand 198 of those working in preschool were graduates of faculties of education, 1 thousand 917 were bachelor's degree graduates, and 1 thousand 611 were associate degree graduates.

It was observed that 12 thousand 587 of the 23 thousand 276 paid classroom teachers were graduates of faculties of education, 9 thousand 728 were bachelor's degree graduates, and 961 were associate degree graduates.

In the research, where it was determined that there were 30 thousand 356 paid teachers working as subject teachers, it was found that 11 thousand 388 were graduates of faculties of education, 15 thousand 997 were bachelor's degree graduates, and 2 thousand 971 were working as associate degree graduates.

It was determined that 9 thousand 429 of the 23 thousand 778 paid special education teachers working in special education, which requires special expertise, were graduates of faculties of education, 11 thousand 821 were bachelor's degree graduates, and 2 thousand 528 were associate degree graduates.

THEY SURPASSED FACULTY OF EDUCATION GRADUATES IN SOME PROVINCES

In the research, based on data from provincial governorships, it was determined that in some provinces, the number of paid teachers with bachelor's degrees was higher than the number of paid teachers who were graduates of faculties of education, and the following statements were used:

"In some of our provinces, the number of paid teachers with bachelor's degrees is higher than the number of paid teachers who are graduates of faculties of education. In Ankara, 1 thousand 364 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 2 thousand 109 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 187 are associate degree graduates. In Bolu, 85 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 149 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 19 are associate degree graduates. In Çanakkale, 158 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 268 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 37 are associate degree graduates. In Giresun, 125 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 193 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 39 are associate degree graduates. In Istanbul, 5 thousand 381 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 11 thousand 334 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 3 thousand 42 are associate degree graduates. In Kocaeli, 729 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 1 thousand 346 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 225 are associate degree graduates. In Tekirdağ, 476 of the paid teachers are graduates of faculties of education, 685 are bachelor's degree graduates, and 224 are associate degree graduates."

"IN 2025, AT LEAST AS MANY PERMANENT APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE MADE AS THE NUMBER OF PAID TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS"

Making a statement regarding the research, Türk Eğitim-Sen Chairman Talip Geylan stated that despite the flow of information from 78 provinces, the number of paid teachers exceeded 86 thousand and the norm staff shortage exceeded 100 thousand in 75 provinces, and requested that the Ministry of National Education take urgent measures.

Stating that the assignment of paid teachers has almost become a primary form of employment, Geylan drew attention to the drawbacks of this. Geylan said, "Our paid teachers receive wages based on the hours of lessons they teach, they do not receive wages on weekends and holidays, they do not receive lesson wages when they do not attend class because they are sick, the monthly income of the vast majority is only equal to half of the minimum wage, they cannot benefit from any of the rights that permanent teachers have, and their social security premiums are paid incompletely.

It is very dangerous that this practice, which contains all the negatives together, has become almost a primary form of employment today, whereas it should be applied as a stopgap measure to replace teachers who are sick, on maternity leave, or doing military service. While even associate degree graduates can work as paid teachers, this situation hinders the success targeted in education and negatively affects efficiency and quality.

If we want to prevent the negative consequences of this practice as soon as possible, the assignment of paid teachers, which is modern slavery, should be completely abolished. What needs to be done, based on the fact that savings cannot be made in education, is to appoint enough permanent teachers so that there is no need for paid teacher assignments.

The Ministry of National Education should make at least as many appointments in 2025 as the number of paid teacher assignments, so that there is no need for paid teacher assignments and the teacher shortage is resolved to some extent. If the Ministry of National Education is looking for a measure for extraordinary situations, it can benefit from the substitute teaching practice at this point.

Article 86 of the Civil Servants Law No. 657 states: 'In cases where civil servants temporarily leave their jobs due to legal leave, temporary duty, disciplinary punishment application, or suspension from duty, a substitute may be appointed in their place from within the institution, from other institutions, or from outside.'

Therefore, in mandatory cases, instead of paid teaching, this provision should be put into practice. As we have always stated; the Turkish Century will be built with education. In this respect, no measure should be avoided in meeting the needs of our educational life. The most important of these needs is to eliminate the teacher shortage. Because the teacher is the essential element and supporting column of education."

News Source: İHA