Students of the Pedagogical Academy protested against the alternative admission system

A group of students from Atatürk Pedagogical Academy (AÖA) expressed their protest against the proposed initiative to admit temporary teachers on a paid basis through a separate exam and a shortened training program lasting about two years.

In their statement, the students emphasized that, despite the absence of an officially approved or documented decision, the very idea of such an approach contradicts the core principles of the academy and is unacceptable.

The students noted that although they are direct participants in the educational process, their position has so far been almost entirely ignored in public discussions. According to them, students cannot be expected to remain silent when it comes to the quality of education and the protection of their rights.

The statement recalled that since 1937, Atatürk Pedagogical Academy has been training state teachers, and student admissions are carried out exclusively through transparent and competitive entrance exams. Training at the academy lasts four years and includes substantial practical preparation.

According to the students, the proposed model effectively equates four years of study to a program lasting about two years, making financial capability a selection criterion. This, they note, creates conditions for unfair competition and infringes on the rights of current students who were admitted and study based on strict requirements.

It is also emphasized that such an approach undermines the existing age criterion of 25, which the academy has maintained for many years as one of its institutional standards.

The students stated that political decisions and promises underlying this initiative ignore the work and achievements of those who were admitted to the academy through lawful means. In conclusion, they stressed that they will not allow the devaluation of the academy, the substitution of merit principles with financial capabilities, or the transformation of this historically significant educational institution into an ordinary educational facility.