While discussions about MESEMs continue, work accidents cannot be prevented: 4 students lost their lives this year

DEM Party Kocaeli Deputy Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, in his parliamentary question that he requested the Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin to answer, reminded that 15-year-old MESEM student Eren Gündoğdu, who worked with an electrician in Çerkezköy, Tekirdağ, died due to electric current while pulling cables in the construction site. Gergerlioğlu stated that the responsibility of the ministry should also be explained in terms of assigning children to dangerous jobs, workplace inspection of the school and supervision of master teachers, and asked for answers to the following questions:

"Which school and MESEM program was Eren Gündoğdu enrolled in? Did he have a contract with the business he worked for? Under which legislation provision was a 15-year-old student allowed to work in electrical installation work in construction? When was the last time the workplace was inspected by the school coordinator teacher and what risks were recorded? Authorized master trainer in the business, electrical safety training, power cut-lockout" Were there procedures and personal protective equipment? What administrative proceedings were initiated against the school, business and responsible public officials after the incident? Will a regulation be made to prohibit MESEM students from working in construction, electricity and other very dangerous jobs? How many students lost their lives and were injured while working within the scope of MESEM in 2026?

RESPONSE FROM THE MINISTER

In his response to the proposal, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin stated that the training processes in the enterprises are monitored weekly by the coordinator teachers and the necessary guidance regarding the training is made.

THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON THE BUSINESS!

In the response, it was stated that students receiving skills training in enterprises should receive training under the supervision of people who have a master instructor certificate, and it was stated that "Students are within the scope of the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, and it is the responsibility of the enterprises to provide the necessary occupational health and safety training and to provide personal protective equipment before starting work."

4 STUDENTS DIE

In the response, it was reported that, according to ministry records, 4 students enrolled in vocational and technical secondary education institutions died due to work accidents in 2026. Later in the response, information from Tekirdağ Governorship was conveyed. According to the information from the Governorship, it was reported that Eren Gündoğdu was enrolled in the electrical and electronic technology field, electrical installations and panel assembly branch of Çerkezköy Vocational Training Center on August 19, 2025, and started skills training at the enterprise on August 25, 2025, in line with the vocational training contract signed with the enterprise on August 7, 2025. It was noted that an investigation was initiated by education inspectors regarding the incident and that the investigation continues.

52 WORK ACCIDENTS

In the response, in line with the information received from the governor's office, the following was said:

"It has been reported that 1 student studying within the scope of the vocational training center program died due to a work accident in 2026 throughout the province, and that there were 52 work accidents resulting in injuries in the SSI records of students studying in these programs in the same period."