The Turkish Cypriot Union of Secondary School Teachers (“KTOEÖS”), in protest against the reinstatement of a religious studies teacher to his duties without a proper investigation.
According to Turkish Cypriot online media, the incident occurred recently during the “Religious Culture and Ethics” for 7th graders, when the teacher in question explained in detail to 12-year-old students the process of washing, shrouding, and preparing the deceased for burial according to Islamic tradition, causing severe psychological distress to the children and strong reactions from parents.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In a written statement, the president of “KTOEÖS,” Ahmet Karaogullari, denounced that despite the warning strike and repeated appeals to the “Ministry of Education,” the teacher was sent back to school as usual to teach, without any administrative or disciplinary proceedings having been initiated.
Mr. Karaogullari described the insistence on the teacher’s return to the classroom as unacceptable, emphasizing that this raises serious concerns about the students’ psychological well-being and the safety of the school environment. He called on the relevant “authorities” to fully investigate the case and uphold the principles of secular education, concluding by emphasizing that “secular, scientific, and public education is our red line.”
