Why is the Minority Primary School in Mizanlı, İskeçe still closed?
Despite having enough students, the Mizanlı Minority Primary School in the village of Mizanlı (Zigos), İskeçe (Xanthi), remains closed, sparking concern among parents and the local community.
The issue was recently raised in the Greek Parliament by İskeçe MP Hüseyin Zeybek, who submitted a question to the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports regarding the school’s continued inactivity.
While school closures in rural areas due to low student numbers are a common challenge, Mizanlı presents a different case. In two separate applications to the İskeçe Primary Education Directorate—on February 20, 2025 and August 6, 2025—parents of a total of 10 students officially expressed their desire to enroll their children in the school.
However, the authorities rejected the August application, stating it could not be considered a continuation of the February submission, effectively keeping the school closed. This decision has been criticized as arbitrary and unjustified by the public.
MP Zeybek emphasized that keeping a school closed despite sufficient student demand is highly contradictory, especially at a time when rural communities face population decline and shrinking educational opportunities. He asked the Minister:
"What urgent steps will your Ministry take to overturn this unfair decision and immediately reopen the minority primary school in Mizanlı, İskeçe?"
Observers note that more inclusive policies on minority education and regional equality are urgently needed, and the Ministry’s response is being closely watched.
