In response to the latest developments in Turkey, Education International cannot stand idle to what it sees as the degradation of democratic values and strongly condemns the government’s actions which now target the country’s educators.
“The news that Turkey is now punishing educators in response to the attempted coup is not only shocking for our profession, but clearly shows that the current political climate is being used to justify the silencing of anyone who may not agree with the government,” said Education International (EI) General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen in response to the suspension and dismissal of thousands of education staff across Turkey. “We call on Turkish authorities to observe the rule of law and uphold the democratic values of Turkish society.”
The education ‘purge’ is only the latest action taken by the government to muzzle its critics since the attempted coup last week. The fallout the chaos that followed has resulted in thousands of arrests and more than 200 deaths.
According to reports, 15,200 education staff were suspended, more than 1,500 university deans have been told to resign and the licences of 21,000 teachers employed at private schools have been revoked.
“Education International will not stand silent as our profession is targeted in what amounts to a ‘witch hunt,” said van Leeuwen. “Although our organisation firmly rejects the attempted coup, we demand that the government of Turkey shows that democracy is the only answer to the unlawful actions of the military rather than justify what amounts to an abolishment of citizen’s rights.”