Court Restores Student To “First In Class” Status

İzmit Gazi Anatolian High School graduate and first in his class Işıtan Önder’s top student status, revoked for his graduation speech has been returned following the court’s motion for a stay of execution.

Father Mustafa Önder told bianet that the school administration sent the documents over to the Student Selection and Placement System (ÖSYM) and that his son’s status as first in his class had been restored.

“We practically ran around today. It all happened in the last half hour. Some people helped, while there were also obstacles. The school principal reported the document on Işıtan’s first-in-class status in line with the court decision to the ÖSYM. Işıtan will submit his college preferences today."

Önder thanked everyone who supported them in the process.

“Everyone put up a struggle”

Önder’s family and the Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen) had applied for the restoration of the status to Kocaeli 2^nd Administrative Court, which had ruled that such a penalty could not be given and granted a motion for a stay of execution.

The ruling had to come into effect yesterday (July 17) for the first-in-class status to alter Önder’s college entrance score, as the deadline for submitting college preferences was last night at 11:59 pm.

Kocaeli province Eğitim-Sen Branch Head Suca Omurca also told bianet that everyone put up a struggle to convey the ruling to ÖSYM yesterday.

“We put our attorneys and friends in charge. They sent the decision to İzmit District Governorship. The district governor conveyed it to the District National Education Directorate for the completion of the procedure. And then they sent an order to the school principal."

What had happened?

Işıtan Önder had begun his speech, which led to the revocation of his first-in-class status through a disciplinary investigation following the ceremony, with the words, “It is purely by chance that I am here, speaking to you now:”

“It is probably impossible for me not to think of Berkin Elvan and Ali İsmail Korkmaz [two young boys, ages 14 and 19 respectively, killed by police violence in Gezi] while at this lectern, namely because people extorted their right to education. Not just their right to education, but also their right to life was extorted. What kind of damage could a 15-year-old boy do to humanity, I ask you? History will give the greatest answer to and the greatest penalty for this extortion. Let it be known; Berkin Elvan and Ali İsmail will always be sitting at these desks and writing on this blackboard.” (BK/PU)