In addition to the discussions about the low salaries of teachers working in the private sector and private schools, which have been on the agenda recently, parents who study children in private schools also made statements to our newspaper regarding their problems.
Özgür Özkan, Chairman of the Private School Parents Platform, pointed out that some private schools have carried out illegal transactions with the aim of intimidating the parents.
"THERE IS NO PRICE LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN THE REGULATION"
Pointing out that the ceiling raise limit for private schools is a step in favor of the parents, Özkan stated that some private schools broke this prohibition with ancillary services.
"There is no price limit for additional services in the regulation. According to the regulation, private schools are obliged to calculate and announce the fees for these additional services separately from the tuition fee until the last week of May. Most of the schools did not comply with this calendar or demanded high fees from the parents by increasing the numbers they announced each month according to the registration date. In fact, some schools demanded additional fees such as 5 thousand - 10 thousand TL from the parents, although they received the meal fees, which they increased by 100 percent compared to the previous year, in advance in the early registration," Özkan said.
"THE REGISTRATION OF THE OBJECTED PARENTS IS NOT RENEWED"
Pointing out that private schools make a hundred percent profit from ancillary services, Özkan emphasized that the schools acted against the regulations regarding ancillary services.
"Schools sell the food they buy for 7 thousand liras to the parents for 15 thousand liras, and the book set they buy for 5 thousand liras to the parents for 9-10 thousand liras. According to the regulation, for these additional services, which should be subject to the request of the parents, especially chain private schools have imposed an obligation that ignores the regulation by saying 'this is the practice with us'. They increased the fees of additional services such as meals and book sets by 100-150 percent. The registrations of the parents who objected and said that they would not receive these services were not renewed, and mobbing was applied by preventing them from purchasing book sets and using the online services of the school. Some parents were even told to pick up their children from school," Özkan added.
“IMPLEMENTATION OF OBLIGATION AND ABUSES ABUSES MUST BE AVOIDED”
Reminding the statements of the Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer regarding the additional services in private schools, Özkan stated that the problem is the behaviors against the regulation.
"Additional services are made mandatory in violation of the regulation. The registration of the children of the parents who do not want to receive these services is not renewed. Those who do not pay for the food service cannot renew their registration, those who cannot renew their registration do not open their books, and those who do not buy books are not included in the school's online system, which is necessary for tracking homework, grades and auxiliary resources. Our request from the esteemed minister is not to limit the fees for additional services, but to prevent the imposition of obligations and prevent abuses," Özkan said.