While there is a shortage of around 700,000 teachers waiting for appointment and nearly 150,000 teachers due to the wrong policies applied in teacher appointments, the Ministry of National Education is trying to solve the problem with paid teachers instead of solving the problem radically.
While paid teachers working in return for additional lessons were on the agenda with their low salaries, Hamdi Sürücü, President of the Conscious Teachers Association (ÖĞ-DER), reacted to the paid teaching practice, "The personal rights of paid teachers should be regulated and their loss of rights should be compensated," he said.
Underlining that paid teaching causes loss of rights, Sürücü reminded that there are 3 different categories of teachers in a teachers' room.
"There are paid, contracted and permanent teachers in the teachers' room. The rights of teachers in these 3 categories are different from each other. Those who lost the most are paid teachers who are paid over additional lessons. Paid teaching practice is an exploitation of labor," Sürücü added.
“IS THE EXPERIENCE NOT AS VALUE AS THE EXAM?”
Stating that a certain quota should be given to paid teachers in teacher appointments, Sürücü underlined that paid teachers gained experience during their teaching and this should be taken into account.
"We have 10-15 years of paid teachers. Considering this experience while making the appointment, teachers with 10-15 years of experience should be given a quota right without the examination requirement. Are experienced teachers not as valuable as the exam?" Sürücü said.
“SALARIES GIVEN TO PAID TEACHERS SHOULD BE IMPROVED”
Stating that paid teachers have many problems, Mr. Sürücü stated that existing problems should be solved.
"The wages they receive in return for the additional lessons given to paid teachers should be increased and brought to the minimum wage level at least monthly. In addition, there are cuts in wages on public holidays of the state. Staff teachers can receive their wages during all holidays. Paid teachers must also be paid during these holidays and during sudden holidays such as snow holidays," he said.
Stating that the insurance premiums of paid teachers are not paid for a full month, Sürücü emphasized that this situation paves the way for other loss of rights.
"After 1 month of work, paid teachers are paid 14 days of insurance premium. Against this situation, the insurance premiums of paid teachers should be paid in full. In addition, the insurance premiums deposited should be counted towards retirement," he added.