İskeçe Minority Secondary School students stage boycott over education conditions
All students at the school participated in the protest, which began early in the morning and continued outside the school until the third lesson period. Following the action, students submitted their demands in writing to the school administration before leaving the premises.
Students then attended the remaining lessons remotely via Webex, in accordance with the applicable regulations. According to a statement by the students, no participant faced an attendance-related issue as a result of the boycott.
STUDENTS PRESENT FIVE KEY DEMANDS
In the written statement submitted to the school administration, students outlined five main areas of concern.
Their first demand concerned what they described as the administration’s attitude during meetings with student representatives. Students said they were disturbed by what they characterised as mocking remarks, shouting and the misrepresentation of their statements. They called for dialogue on an equal footing and genuine cooperation between the administration and students.
The students’ second major demand was the reopening of the school’s second building, or annex. They argued that the closure of the additional building had placed significant pressure on the school’s existing capacity and contributed to overcrowding in the main building.
CONCERNS OVER CROWDED CLASSROOMS
Students also raised concerns about classroom overcrowding, saying that the closure of the second building had resulted in some classes containing as many as 30 students.
They argued that overcrowded classrooms negatively affect the quality of education and create unsuitable conditions for learning. The students therefore called for class sizes to be reduced.
CALL FOR GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF SCHOOL BODIES
Another concern involved communication between the school administration and the school’s elected institutional bodies.
Students alleged that the administration had failed to provide sufficient information to the elected School Supervisory Board and the Parents’ Association. They said these bodies serve as a bridge between students and the administration and called for them to be adequately informed about developments concerning the school.
STUDENTS OBJECT TO WRITTEN PERMISSION FOR TOILET USE
Students also objected to a practice requiring them to obtain written permission from the school administration to use the toilet during lessons.
They called for the practice to be abolished, arguing that requiring written permission to use the toilet undermines personal dignity and violates basic rights.
STUDENTS SAY THEY REMAIN DETERMINED
In their statement to the administration, the students called for their demands to be addressed immediately and said they wanted to return to the educational process without disruption.
They also stressed that they remained determined to have their demands met. However, they said no final decision had yet been made on whether the boycott would continue or take another form in the coming days.
The administration’s response to the students’ demands, as well as whether further talks will be held with student representatives, is expected to shape the next stage of the dispute.
