Survey: Turkish schools affected by ongoing PKK conflict
ANKARA, Turkey — A new survey in Turkey’s Kurdish regions shows that at least 89 areas in the southeast of the country have major difficulties in providing enough security for students to attend classes due to ongoing fighting in the region.
The survey conducted by Turkey’s Union of Teachers and Students showed that most parents have reluctantly sent their children to local schools in the past month amid an escalation of violence.
Daily clashes have been reported in and outside Kurdish localities in Turkey’s Kurdistan between Turkey’s army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with hundreds of casualties since July when a two-year ceasefire was effectively broken.
The survey polled parents and teachers in major Kurdish cities, including Diyarbakir, Dersim, Hakari, Mardin, Van, Sirnax and other towns and villages.
The study showed that over 60 percent of the teachers would like to leave the area and continue their services elsewhere in Turkey. It also showed that most parents would probably refuse to allow their children to attend schools if clashes continue.
Turkish airpower has bombed PKK positions in the mountainous Qandil areas in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, while the PKK’s armed groups have responded by attacking Turkish police and military in the southeast of the country.
The survey conducted by Turkey’s Union of Teachers and Students showed that most parents have reluctantly sent their children to local schools in the past month amid an escalation of violence.
Daily clashes have been reported in and outside Kurdish localities in Turkey’s Kurdistan between Turkey’s army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with hundreds of casualties since July when a two-year ceasefire was effectively broken.
The survey polled parents and teachers in major Kurdish cities, including Diyarbakir, Dersim, Hakari, Mardin, Van, Sirnax and other towns and villages.
The study showed that over 60 percent of the teachers would like to leave the area and continue their services elsewhere in Turkey. It also showed that most parents would probably refuse to allow their children to attend schools if clashes continue.
Turkish airpower has bombed PKK positions in the mountainous Qandil areas in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, while the PKK’s armed groups have responded by attacking Turkish police and military in the southeast of the country.