North Cyprus is entering the new school year with unresolved infrastructure problems, an increasing student population, and a reliance on temporary container classrooms. Without significant investment and planning, these issues are likely to persist, affecting the quality of education and the safety of students, Yeniduzen reports.
Meanwhile, the UBP-YDP-DP Government has opted for a temporary fix by ordering 97 more container classrooms to accommodate 4,800 students. These containers, already in use in some schools, are a stopgap solution due to ongoing construction work and unaddressed deficiencies in the education system.
Burak Maviş, Secretary General of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union (KTÖS), highlighted that the student population has grown by 5% in the last three years. Despite this, no budget was allocated for schools, forcing families to cover education expenses. Maviş also pointed out that 66 schools have yet to complete their earthquake safety reports, further compounding the problems.
Selma Eylem, President of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS), echoed concerns about the ongoing construction and the inadequacy of container classrooms as a long-term solution. She stressed that these temporary measures compromise the quality of education and staff shortages will worsen the situation. Eylem noted that some schools, like Lefke Gazi High School, need to be rebuilt rather than reinforced, but no budget has been allocated for this.
Seran Aysal, Chairman of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Cypriot Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB), explained that structural reinforcement is a complex and time-consuming process. While some progress has been made, many schools are still in the planning or tender phase, and these projects could take years to complete. Aysal warned that expecting quick fixes for issues neglected for years is unrealistic.