Maviş: Inflation in Education Reaches 55 Percent, Class Sizes Rise to 35 Students

In a written statement, Maviş said some schools now have up to 35 students per classroom, adding that “children who are bullied, show behavioural problems, do not speak Turkish, have special needs, or have suffered neglect or abuse are often placed in the same class.” He underlined that schools urgently need more guidance and special education teachers.

Maviş noted that although construction at Şehit Yalçın, Dörtyol, and Necati Taşkın primary schools has been completed, there are still around 260 container classrooms in the country, representing 21 percent of all classrooms. He added that half of these container classrooms lack basic technological equipment.

Criticising the government for appointing 40 temporary teachers “as an election surprise,” Maviş said such appointments should be made based on need rather than electoral timing.

He also pointed out that increasing class sizes are directly affecting the quality of education, stating that “teachers can barely make eye contact with their students in such crowded classrooms.”

Maviş further emphasised the need to strengthen psychological support units in schools, saying that “placing counselling services in schools would help minimise behavioural and emotional problems.”

He added that economic hardship has made private schools inaccessible for many families, placing an increasing burden on public schools.

Accusing the Ministry of Education of unfairness in teacher recruitment, Maviş said that only one out of 190 guidance teacher candidates and ten out of 63 special education candidates passed the recruitment exam. “Our young people’s efforts and dreams have been discarded,” he said.