The death of İbrahim Oktugan, the principal of a private high school in Istanbul’s Eyüpsultan district, due to an armed attack by his student has caused deep sadness and anger in the education community. In protest against this tragic incident and to draw attention to the increasing violence against teachers, some teachers staged a work stoppage.
As part of the protest called by education unions, unionized teachers did not attend classes in some schools across Istanbul. In support of this action, students did not go to school and stood by their teachers.
Teachers participating in the protest demanded more effective measures against increasing violence, especially in educational settings. With parents also supporting the protest, it was noteworthy that schools remained empty compared to normal days.
There were also voices of protest among students. Deniz Esen, a student at Mehmet Emin Horoz Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Avcılar, said that although they came to school, there were no classes.
The incident behind this protest was the tragic attack at a private high school in the Alibeyköy neighborhood. On May 7, a foreign student attacked Oktugan with a gun because he attributed his expulsion to the principal, İbrahim Oktugan, and the principal was seriously injured. Unfortunately, the principal could not be saved despite interventions.
Teachers who wanted to show their reaction to the violence organized protests in front of the Ministry of National Education (MEB) and in Beyazıt Square in Istanbul. They drew attention to security gaps and demanded more deterrent punishments for crimes against educators.
