Students occupy İskeçe Music School, demand construction of new building

Students of the İskeçe Music School staged a protest on Friday, 14 November, occupying the school building indefinitely to draw attention to severe structural problems affecting their education. They also sent a protest letter to the Mayor of Yassıköy, Giorgos Tsitiridis, outlining their concerns.

“Current facilities no longer meet basic educational standards”

In the letter, drafted by the school’s 15-member student council, students stressed that ongoing safety, hygiene, and capacity issues make the existing building unsuitable for lessons. They called for urgent intervention and the construction of a new, modern school facility.

Key problems highlighted by the students

Insufficient classrooms: Many rooms cannot accommodate the growing number of students, while some are unusable due to structural deficiencies.

Flooded storage area: The storage space beneath the principal’s office floods during heavy rain, damaging equipment and creating unhealthy conditions.

Unsafe staircases: One of the school’s two buildings has staircases with broken tiles, posing a serious risk of accidents.

Damaged and inadequate toilets: Most restrooms suffer from damage, poor lighting, and lack of ventilation. The school also has no accessible toilet for students with disabilities.

No cafeteria or performance hall

Students noted that the school lacks a cafeteria, forcing them to eat outside in unsuitable weather conditions, especially during winter.

They also emphasized the absence of a performance and events hall, which is essential for concerts, rehearsals, and artistic activities.

“A new Music School is an urgent necessity”

The student council declared that the protest would remain peaceful, stating that their goal is to “prompt authorities to take action and make the problems visible.”

They concluded the letter by thanking the municipality for its understanding and urged officials to provide a swift and effective solution.