CHP proposes salary bonus for teachers as Turkey marks Teacher’s Day

ANKARA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu proposed a one-month salary bonus for teachers on Nov. 24, marking Turkey’s National Teacher’s Day.

“Each Nov. 24, we gather, visit schools and say nice things to teachers and students. Why not give a one-month salary bonus to teachers on this day?” Kılıçdaroğlu said in Istanbul.

“Is the Republic of Turkey in such a state that it cannot provide teachers with a bonus? Teachers look after our children and take part in raising them,” he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu added that there should be an exclusive law for teachers, placing them in a special position in society.

“There should be a professional law for teachers that distinguishes them from government officials,” he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu also stressed teachers in Turkey are suffering from economic difficulties due to their “low wages.”

He said an experienced teacher earns 3,040 Turkish Liras a month, falling below the monthly poverty threshold for a family of four, which is 7,056 liras.

“All of our teachers’ wages are below the poverty line. Let’s legislate a special law and give teachers a wage above the poverty line, without exception. Be sure that no one in parliament would say no to this,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“Let’s give [teachers] a decent wage,” he said.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also marked the day by meeting with 169 teachers from all of Turkey’s 81 provinces.

“Our only expectation from you is to teach our children, our students, to have hope and excitement for the future,” Yıldırım said, addressing the teachers in Ankara.

“Don’t forget to instill love for the country, nation and flag in our children’s minds,” he said.

“The remedy for our biggest trouble, terror, is to weave our unity, togetherness and territorial integrity into the young minds of our children at early ages,” Yıldırım said.