Students in Northern Cyprus Support Striking Teachers — in Crocs and Slippers

Protests are still underway in Northern Cyprus over the newly introduced Disciplinary Regulation, which dictates how students should dress and behave at school. While the teachers’ union is expected to announce its official plan of resistance today, students have already shown their support — in a creative and unexpected way.

High school students took to social media this week, calling on their peers to wear Crocs or slippers to school on April 11 as a show of solidarity with teachers who are opposing the regulation.

“On April 11, we’ll wear Crocs or slippers to school to show that we stand with our teachers. We hope everyone who feels the same will join us. We’re with our teachers — all the way,” read one widely shared message.

The Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) announced that it will hold a press conference at 12:00 today at the union headquarters to unveil its next steps.

Earlier this week, the TRNC Council of Ministers approved the new regulation, which was published in the Official Gazette and has already come into effect. It has sparked significant backlash within the education community. Among other things, the regulation addresses the wearing of the hijab in schools, hands over the authority to decide on school uniforms to school administrations, and enforces stricter behavioral guidelines for students.

The policy has already led to a large-scale protest in Nicosia, supported by around 40 civil society organizations. Estimates suggest that up to 13,000 people took part. Teachers say they will continue their fight to defend the secular nature of the education system.