Başevirgen: Schools need at least 65,000 security officers

YENİ Party Manisa MP Bekir Başevirgen assessed the response given by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin to his written parliamentary question and said at least 65,000 security officers are needed in schools. After the school attack in Manisa's Turgutlu district, Başevirgen had brought the security problems in schools onto the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) and had submitted a written parliamentary question to Tekin.

According to the ministry's response, in the 2026-2027 academic year, 1,015 school law enforcement officers are on duty at 1,102 schools across Turkey. At 25,248 schools there are 10,961 safe education coordination officers, and at 23,075 schools there are 7,008 teams present at entry and exit times. In addition, there are 2,170 certified private security officers and 31,000 school yard officers in schools. The ministry reported that security cameras are present in nearly all schools, that camera recordings are kept for at least 30 days, and that in-service training is provided to security personnel on crisis management, emergencies and child-focused security practices.

Başevirgen stated that the figures disclosed do not reveal the real picture regarding school security. Saying that "by saying there are 31,000 yard officers, you are not ensuring the safety of our children," Başevirgen said it has not been explained at which schools these officers are assigned, according to which criteria, or what their authority and responsibilities are. Başevirgen said, "At least 65,000 security officers are needed to ensure an environment of security and peace in schools," and proposed that non-commissioned officers who left the Turkish Armed Forces after serving for 7 years be appointed to these positions.

The MP noted that in his parliamentary question he had asked for the number of incidents of violence, armed attacks, knife attacks, threats, assault and peer bullying that occurred in schools over the past year, and that he wanted to learn how many students, teachers and school staff were injured or lost their lives inside or around schools over the past three academic years. Emphasizing that the ministry did not share numerical data in response to these questions, Başevirgen said that figures on the classification of schools by risk level and on security breaches were also not provided.

In the ministry's response, it was stated that a cooperation protocol among the Ministries of National Education, Justice, Family and Social Services, Labor and Social Security, Youth and Sports, Interior and Health concerning the safety of children's education processes had been updated. Saying that "when a security gap occurs at a school, it must be absolutely clear who is responsible," Başevirgen said the duty and responsibility of each institution must be clear, auditable and accountable. In his statement, Başevirgen offered the assessment that "school security is not a matter of announcing a number of personnel."