The Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS), which brought the physical problems in schools to the agenda, stated that the situation of the newly built schools was not very encouraging and drew attention to the fact that there were problems in almost every school.
The union argued that the newly built schools were built by benevolent citizens, but that the state did not undertake the duties it should undertake regarding the construction processes.
Noting that Osman Nejat Konuk Secondary School, which is the only school built by the state recently and started its education life in 2021, will start the 2022-2023 academic year with almost no deficiencies completed, KTOEÖS stated that some of the deficiencies; pointed out that it was completed with the efforts of school administrators, teachers and parents.
Deficiencies of Osman Nejat Konuk Secondary School
The union shared the images of the school in question and explained the main problems as follows:
- There is no gazebo or covered place to provide shade to students or to protect them from rain outside of the school.
- When it rained, a large part of the school was flooded and leaks occurred in the building. Although these problems were intervened, there is no guarantee that there will be no problems when it rains again.
- The walls surrounding the school are very low and allow students to escape from the school easily.
- No trees or plants have been planted in the garden of the school, the school looks like a lonely building in the middle of a desert.
- The entrance and exit of the school are not closed in any way.
- There are problems at the point of loading and unloading students of school buses.
- Although a large area for physical education was determined in the school, no investment was made in this area. It’s full of dry grass and garbage. Students do their physical education lessons in the school’s hardwood courtyard, in completely dangerous and unhealthy conditions, and there are constant injuries.
- The school does not have internet and telephone connection. Internet is provided in a limited way, which is realized with the contributions of teachers.
- A second computer classroom needed by the school could not be built due to electrical problems.
- There is no smart board in any classroom.
The statement continued:
“Deficiencies are not only found in Osman Nejat Konuk Secondary School. The statement of Mr. Nazım Çavuşoğlu, ignoring the problems found in dozens of old schools and addressing the union, “they do not talk about the newly built schools” is unacceptable. It should be known that even the only school built by the state in recent years is trying to carry out educational activities with great deficiencies.
Days before the opening of the academic year, the work that the state should do has not been completed, even in the new schools that will be operational this year.
Our union puts forward the idea of “standard school” on many platforms and emphasizes that all schools provide the same opportunities to teachers and students.
“Standard school” can be realized by planning every detail of the new schools in advance and by bringing the old schools to the determined standards.”