Students told to carry boxes to school in Turkey’s Bodrum

MUĞLA - Doğan News Agency

A parent of one of the children said they were shocked that the children had to carry the boxes that exceeded their strength so much. DHA Photo

Six children between the ages of seven and 10 have been told by school officials to carry textbook boxes to school in the resort town of Bodrum in western Turkey, raising claims of child labor.

On the first day of the new academic year, the children were told to help carry boxes of textbooks to the school. A parent of one of the children said they were shocked that the children had to carry the boxes that exceeded their strength so much.

The Bodrum district representative of the Eğitim-Sen education union, Ahmet Paksoy, said they had talked to the union member teachers in the school. The teachers reportedly told Paksoy that they were at the school at the moment but did not see the incident.

“We are against the use of children in such service work,” he added.

The Bodrum District head of the Education Ministry, Emin Geçin, said he had been informed about the issue after he saw the pictures.

“We have just learned that the students were told to carry the books. I have children. I see it as unjust to make children carry things that exceed their strength. We will start an investigation into the incident,” said Geçin.