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Turkey mandates white lab coats for teachers — protests erupt in Ankara

Turkey’s new mandatory white coat rule for teachers sparks protests in Ankara, as unions demand action on overcrowded classrooms and student hunger.

Turkey mandates white lab coats for teachers — protests erupt in Ankara
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Teachers in Turkey will be required to wear white lab coats in schools, according to a new circular issued by the Ministry of National Education — a directive that has sparked fierce backlash from teachers’ unions. The measure applies to both male and female educators. The ministry’s guidelines include different designs and specifications for men and women, as well as a separate version for preschool education.

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Turkey: Teachers protest mandatory uniform policy

As the new school year kicked off, members of the Eğitim-İş union gathered outside the Ministry of National Education in Ankara, accusing the government of prioritizing teachers’ appearance over the real problems that, they argue, hamper the daily operation of public schools. These include shortages of teaching staff, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate cleaning and security personnel. “Don’t measure the centimeters of the apron. Measure the space each child has in the classroom,” said Eğitim-İş president Kadem Özbay, sharply criticizing the ministry’s priorities.

The union also raised concerns about the financial burden placed on families. According to Eğitim-İş, back-to-school expenses have now reached nearly three times the monthly minimum wage. Particular attention was drawn to student nutrition, with the union calling for the provision of free school meals. Citing PISA data, Özbay noted that one in three students in Turkey goes to school without having eaten breakfast, while one in five skips meals altogether. At the end of the protest, demonstrators left food trays, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper outside the ministry building, drawing attention to the shortages they say public schools face on a daily basis. Eğitim-İş also condemned the pressuring and forced reassignment of teachers, and demanded more permanent appointments, adequate cleaning and security staff, and free meals for all students.

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