The Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) has warned about a recorded 66% increase in discipline cases in schools and the neglect of psychological counseling and special education teacher needs in this process.
Discipline Issues and Increasing Needs
KTOEÖS Education Secretary Seçil Toprak stated in a recent announcement that deficiencies in the school infrastructure and inadequacies in the teaching staff have deepened the problems faced in education. She noted that these educational issues have brought along negative situations such as violence and peer bullying. Toprak shared the findings of a survey conducted between the 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 academic years, revealing a 66% increase in discipline cases, with a recorded 13.8% rise this year alone compared to the previous year.
Teacher Needs and Education Quality
Toprak highlighted that there is an urgent need for 29 psychological counseling and 18 special education teachers in schools before the academic year begins, but these needs have been ignored by the Ministry. She emphasized that this situation has exacerbated the teacher shortage in schools and that the new school year will start with incomplete staffing. Additionally, she pointed out that temporary teacher applications and appointments are insufficient in addressing this issue.
Toprak remarked that the number of students in some classrooms has reached up to 40, bringing along other issues concerning education quality. The noted deficiencies include container classrooms, earthquake resilience, solutions for students who do not speak Turkish, and students with special education needs.
Another striking point was UNICEF’s document recommending that one psychological counselor should be assigned for every 100 students in secondary education. However, the current practice has seen this ratio rise to 250 students, with the assignment processes lagging further behind. This situation has hindered counselors from adequately engaging with students.
Toprak stated, “We do not accept this irresponsible mentality regarding our children’s right to secular, quality, safe, scientific, and public education,” emphasizing the need for the education system to be restructured based on scientific data and real needs.
Finally, Toprak mentioned that their struggle against this situation threatening children’s future will continue and that they will take a determined stand to solve the problems in education.
Source: www.yeniduzen.com
