Erçin Şahmaran writes..."45 Different Countries Represented by Non-Turkish-Speaking Students"

"45 Different Countries Represented by Non-Turkish-Speaking Students"

Despite the heat, stifling humidity, and oppressive nature of summer, I love this season.

Days are longer, giving you more time for everything. The sun sets later, so there's more time available.

Of course, we are approaching the end of summer.

We live in a beautiful country where sometimes you can experience all four seasons in a single day, and winters are not too severe. This is an advantage.

Mismanaging, failing to plan, or not utilizing this advantage is our fault.

September, however, has its own charm. Despite this, many people are already anxious.

Schools are about to open, and with that comes the preparation for schools, roads, traffic, and all kinds of infrastructure. Are they ready for the new term?

During the summer break, when schools are closed, one of the biggest concerns, especially with risks such as earthquakes or other unexpected events, is the durability and safety of schools.

Some work has been done regarding these issues.

Many schools have been reinforced, and container classrooms have been constructed and are in use.

Undoubtedly, the most debated topic following the February 6, 2023, earthquake in Turkey has been the state of the schools.

A considerable amount of time has passed since then. What is the current status?

What will students, teachers, families, and stakeholders encounter when schools reopen?

Aside from everything, education and health issues should not be sidelined.

It is unfortunate that these vital issues do not receive the attention and importance they deserve.

These are the community’s primary concerns.

We spoke with Burak Maviş, Secretary of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers' Union (KTÖS), about the current state of these issues.

KTÖS General Secretary Maviş summarizes the situation as follows:

“Some children who will eagerly rush to their schools on September 16 will encounter construction sites.

Some steps have been taken, but they are insufficient. Approximately 12% of the student population, around 4,800 students, will have classes in container classrooms. These numbers are based on our findings. Some schools are still not completed. According to available data, we only know the status of 58 schools; we have not seen reports from other schools.

We do not know the status of some large schools. We have not seen their reports. We are not sure about their conditions. The excuse of no money is not valid. Money can be found when needed. A disaster fund was established. Funds collected from citizens have accumulated in this fund, creating around one billion Turkish liras. The Ministry of Finance uses this within the balance of income and expenditure as needed. This situation reduces and slows down the number of tenders. Bureaucracy is another problem. There is less interest in tenders. Some schools did not even receive bids. Even the simplest repairs took eight months to complete.

Schools provide more than just academic knowledge. Students socialize and develop their skills. 10% of the student population consists of foreign students who do not speak Turkish. This is our reality. There are students from 45 different countries. The majority are from Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In İskele, one in two students and in Kyrenia, one in three students are non-Turkish-speaking foreigners.

Last year, orientation classes were established in some schools. This year, there is no specific plan. There seems to be an approach that non-Turkish-speaking children will not be admitted to schools. We consider this unfair and advocate for admitting them to schools to support their development.”