Dear Stakeholders in Education,

For the past 20 years, we have witnessed the disastrous state of our country's education system, which has been turned into a trial-and-error experiment, continuously altered and shaped by ever-changing, experimental policies.

The most painful aspect of this situation stands before us today as the symbolic figure known as the "Narin Child," leaving deep marks on the conscience of society.

Her story has become a symbol, turning into a deep ache in everyone's heart.

Those who should be strengthening our education system have unfortunately paved the way for the deepening of ignorance, allowing reactionary and regressive mindsets to gain power.

The decline and injustice in education have also formed the foundation for the increasing violence in our society day by day.

The violence faced by teachers, as well as the violence directed at women, doctors, children, and animals, are the direct results of the declining quality of education and the failure to instill healthy values in society.

It is crucial that we place education above politics and build every policy and strategy on this foundation.

Education should never be sacrificed for political concerns; it must be strengthened through non-partisan, long-term, and sustainable policies.

A developed Turkey, where people live in peace and prosperity, is only possible with a scientific, secular, and democratic education system.

In countries that have proven themselves in education and are held as examples worldwide, political administrations—whether left or right—do not tamper with education policies.

Rather than making drastic changes, these countries develop their education systems over time by conducting needs assessments.

In this vision, giving education the importance it deserves will provide a more just, free, and forward-looking future for every segment of society.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to build the future of our country with the "Turkey Century Education Model" and ÇEDES projects, which deviate from Atatürk's vision of contemporary and scientific education.

The experimental approaches initiated with the FATİH Project and supported by the 4+4+4 system are unworthy of Atatürk's principle of raising "free-thinking, free-conscience, and free-willed" individuals and do not honor the educational legacy of the Republic of Turkey.

The ideological undermining of education through the ÇEDES project and condemning our children and youth to a dark future instead of Atatürk's bright vision is unacceptable.

We want to secure our future with a modern, scientific, and free-thinking education system.

Here, we must ask ourselves: Are we aware that education is being covertly privatized?

I would like to emphasize that we are facing the reality of private schools, which have become a significant economic force.

Every year, our citizens take out loans, incur debts, and try to send their children to private schools that they believe provide secular and modern education, with better hygiene conditions, food services, and a sense of security.

However, one of the most crucial points we must focus on is the need to collectively initiate a struggle to improve our public schools, with the awareness that all our children have the right to equal education.

Every child has the right to access education under equal conditions, and we should see quality education in all schools.

Recently, Minister of Education Yusuf Tekin made a statement about the donation scandal in schools, saying, "There is no donation; families are willing to pay a fee because they want to enroll their child in a school where they are not registered."

This statement brings to light our most significant problem.

It is an admission that schools do not offer equal education and that parents are forced to make donations in search of a good school due to this inequality.

As a nation, as political institutions, and as citizens, we must fight with determination, with the awareness that education and the right to education for all must be placed above everything else.

This is our shared responsibility and duty.

Sevim DALGIÇ GÜL / Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi