25.03.2025 21:00
The Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, stated that necessary legal and administrative actions will be initiated against the unions and educators participating in the protest demonstrations following the detention and arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, who made a number of visits in Bursa, answered questions from the press at the Bursa Governorship.
JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN IMAMOĞLU PROTESTS
Minister Tekin stated that necessary judicial and administrative actions will be initiated against the unions and educators who participated in the protest demonstrations organized following Ekrem İmamoğlu's detention and arrest on March 19.
"I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE DISRUPTION OF EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS"
Minister Tekin expressed the following: "As an educator, in addition to looking at the issue, I have taught constitutional law and political science at the university for many years. The issue also needs to be viewed in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms. As an educator, I am uncomfortable with the disruption of education in our schools. We have also stated that we will take all necessary measures to ensure that education continues without interruption.
"THE MAIN CONTINENT OF THE USE OF A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT IS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH ANOTHER'S RIGHT"
From the perspective of human rights theory, there are scales and evaluation criteria that accept all international literature related to fundamental rights and freedoms. All people have inalienable and non-transferable fundamental rights and freedoms. The right to life and the right to the protection of bodily integrity are non-transferable. These are the kinds of rights that are closely tied to a person's personality. Education is also a right guaranteed in our constitution in this sense. Again, there is something we need to emphasize repeatedly in international literature. The main continent of the use of a fundamental right is not to interfere with another's right. It is not to take away another's fundamental right. Therefore, trade union freedoms are also guaranteed in our constitution and relevant legislation. People can use their freedom of association. They should use it. The state is also obliged to guarantee these rights. As an academic and as the Minister of National Education, I am responsible for ensuring the use of trade union freedoms.
"NO ONE CAN SAY, 'I AM USING MY TRADE UNION FREEDOM. THEREFORE, I WILL NOT COME TO SCHOOL TODAY'"
However, there is another thing I need to do. While people are using their trade union freedoms, they should not take away another person's fundamental rights and freedoms. It is my duty to ensure this. Therefore, no one can say to me, 'I am using my trade union freedom. That is why I will not come to school today. Whatever citizens' children do, let them do it. Whatever happens to them, happens.' If a person who says this claims to be exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms, they are mistaken. This is the deprivation of another's fundamental rights and freedoms. It is a constitutional crime. It is an act contrary to the law. As the Minister of National Education, I am responsible for ensuring that one of the most fundamental rights of our children, which is the right to education, is provided to them in a healthy manner.
"WE WILL INITIATE NECESSARY JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST OUR FRIENDS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROTEST"
Therefore, in this sense, anyone who prevents the healthy use of our children's right to education or attempts to do so is also obliged to bear the consequences of the sanctions directed at them. As the Ministry of National Education, we will apply the necessary judicial and administrative mechanisms to our friends participating in these protests and implement the necessary sanctions within our legal limits," he said.