Istanbul Parents and Teachers Demand Action as School Overcrowding Crisis Deepens

The debate over Istanbul's education infrastructure has reached a critical point, with parents, teachers, and administrators across Üsküdar, Pendik, and Çekmeköy now openly calling for urgent government intervention to address severe overcrowding in public schools.

"My daughter sits three to a desk in her classroom on Bağlarbaşı Street," says a parent representative from the Üsküdar Education Association, speaking on behalf of concerned families. "The school was built for 800 students. It now has 1,200. Teachers cannot teach effectively, and children cannot learn."

The numbers paint a stark picture. District education officials report that secondary schools across the Asian side are operating at 135-150% capacity, forcing administrators to implement staggered schedules and reduce laboratory access. A recent survey by the Istanbul Teachers' Union found that 67% of respondents cited overcrowding as their primary workplace concern, with many citing burnout and stress-related illness.

At Pendik's Cumhuriyet Lisesi, one of the district's largest schools, the gymnasium has been converted into a makeshift classroom. "We're doing the best we can, but this is not sustainable," said one long-serving educator familiar with the situation. "Students deserve proper facilities. The building was never designed for this capacity."

The crisis has sparked broader conversations about resource allocation. While private schools in affluent Çekmeköy neighbourhoods maintain class sizes of 20-25 students, public institutions struggle. Tuition at leading private institutions averages 150,000 TL annually—pricing out working and middle-class families entirely.

Parent groups have organised meetings at community centres throughout Üsküdar and Pendik, where residents express concerns about both immediate conditions and long-term planning. "We need to see concrete plans, not promises," one community organiser explained. "The city is growing. Schools must grow with it."

Education officials acknowledge the pressure. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's recent budget allocation included 2.3 billion TL for education infrastructure, though advocates argue this remains insufficient given the scale of need. Construction of three new secondary schools in Çekmeköy is scheduled for 2027-2028, but existing communities say they cannot wait.

As new school terms approach, the tension between supply and demand shows no signs of easing. Community representatives across the Asian side remain vocal, insisting that quality education access is not a luxury but a fundamental right that Istanbul's rapid growth cannot overshadow.

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