ISTANBUL - Stating that the government paid the bill of the earthquake to the students, Education Sen Istanbul No. 1 Branch President Mesut Mike said: "The education and training received a blow with the distance education decision."

 

Following the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Maraş which is epicenter on February 6, distance education was started in universities due to the decision to place earthquake victims in the dormitories of the Credit and Hostels Institution. After AKP President Erdogan's statement, "Universities will switch to distance education, dormitories will become guesthouses," the students were hastily expelled from the dormitories and their belongings were placed in front of the dormitories without notice.

 

Mesut Mike, Head of the Education and Science Workers' Union (Egitim Sen) Istanbul No. 1 Branch, made evaluations about the distance education decision.

 

BACKGROUND OF THE DECISION

 

Stating that the decision will seriously disrupt education, Mike condemned the evacuation of dormitories without bringing many sources to the agenda and said: “The reason why many hotels and hostels, especially in touristic areas, are on the agenda is that the tourism season will start in a few months. They are paying the students the price of this victimization of the people. The reason should be to consider the profit of private equity. They have received a blow to the education and training of students with this decision.”

 

Considering the possible 2023 elections, Mike said: "This decision was conscious. When such central governments are caught unprepared, they have to sacrifice something. Especially they sacrifice education very easily. They will turn the victimization of so many earthquake victims into an election campaign by manipulating people through the media."

 

PERCEPTION OPERATION IS CREATED

 

Drawing attention to the fact that education is the most important factor that determines the economy, culture and sociality of a country, Mike said: "The unauthorized access to the lockers of the students in the dormitories and the stuffing of their belongings in garbage bags as an 'occupation and pirate-like attitude'. They wanted to create a perception operation based on the victimization of earthquake victims. The government wants to spread the perception of 'Look, we did not leave the earthquake victims alone, we took care of them' with the decision of KYK dormitories."

 

Reminding that students started support campaigns in solidarity with the earthquake area and participated in search and rescue efforts voluntarily, Mike said: “In such a period, universities have become centers of solidarity and assistance. No one has the right to disrupt such an organization. The system is a system built on othering; however, despite all the negativities, the culture of solidarity re-emerged in the society. In the face of such disasters, the society needs to take care of each other.”