Brussels, 20 July 2016                

Dear Colleagues,

Turkey must not use educators as scapegoats in response to failed coup

Education International strongly protests the unlawful actions Turkish authorities have taken against the teaching profession. The suspension of 15,200 teachers, the license revocation of 21,000 private school teachers, and the forced resignation of 1,500 university deans throughout the country are in violation of several international conventions and recommendations pertaining to the education sector. 

Education International has made an urgent request to the government of Turkey to reverse these decisions and respect the international standards protecting the trade union rights and academic freedoms of all educators and education support staff.

This so-called education ‘purge’ seems to be an attempt to silence those who criticise the undemocratic practises of the Turkish government. Turkey must stop using educators as scapegoats in response to the failed coup and immediately cease its witch hunt in the country's schools and universities.  

We encourage all Education International member organisations to write your Turkish Embassies to demand that they cease the unlawful persecution of education professionals. 

Yours sincerely,

Fred van Leeuwen

General Secretary