Diyarbakır education unions highlight teacher shortages and economic barriers

Education unions in Diyarbakır are raising concerns regarding systemic issues facing the 2026-2027 academic year, including teacher shortages, economic barriers, and language course availability.

Hüdai Morsümbül, head of the Memur-Sen Kurdish Language Elective Course Monitoring Commission, reported that students have faced long-standing difficulties accessing Kurdish and Zaza elective courses due to a lack of qualified teachers. In the Silvan district, schools have had to use alternative methods, such as assigning existing teachers to complete hours or utilizing teachers with master's degrees in Kurdish from other disciplines, to fill the gaps. Morsümbül called for the appointment of licensed Kurdish teachers and a revision of regulations to better support these language demands.

Separately, Saliha Zorlu, Co-Chair of the Eğitim-Sen Diyarbakır 1st Branch, highlighted how rising costs and poverty are distancing children from education. Zorlu criticized the reliance on low-paid, insecure substitute teaching to address vacancies and noted that the proliferation of private schools is deepening educational inequality. She also emphasized that increasing school security personnel is insufficient, advocating instead for stronger psychosocial support and guidance mechanisms to foster a sense of belonging for students.