Teachers’ union held action at Lefkoşa Turkish High School over investigation against principal

The Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers’ Union held a press statement on January 30 in front of the Lefkoşa Turkish High School building in Lefkoşa, Northern Cyprus, in connection with the opening of a disciplinary investigation against the school principal.

Union President Selma Eylem stated that the investigation was opened "without a valid reason," while inspectors are used "like the police," and teachers face pressure and intimidation. Eylem demanded a review of quotas and scholarships distributed by Turkish universities during Ziya Yöztürkler’s tenure in the Higher Education and External Relations Office.

Eylem also noted that nearly three years after the February 6 earthquake, education in many schools continues in container classrooms; of the 18 schools included in the Chamber of Engineers’ risk list, repairs have been completed in only nine. The union highlighted staff shortages, increasing bullying, and safety threats in overcrowded classrooms and workshops.

Union Secretary General Tahir Gökçebel accused the government of failing to perform its duties properly and called for an investigation into all identified violations. He also emphasized that if a teacher’s actions constitute a criminal offense, the appropriate investigation and measures must be undertaken.