Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that ensuring the safety of schools is the government's foremost concern, emphasizing that no compromises will be made in this critical area.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan addressed the nation following a Cabinet meeting, where he highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat violence. This approach will encompass aspects ranging from family dynamics to digital media exposure and institutional collaboration. "The more accurately we identify the factors fueling the culture of violence, the more successful we will be in the treatment process," Erdogan stated.
The president announced plans to bolster the government's presence in online environments using artificial intelligence. He noted that monitoring activities in digital spaces will be expanded to ensure a safer environment. "We will further strengthen our visible and invisible presence in the dark corners of the internet by also benefiting from artificial intelligence," Erdogan added.
The urgency of these measures was underscored by a tragic incident on Wednesday, where an 8th-grade student opened fire at a middle school in Trkiye's Kahramanmaras province, resulting in the deaths of nine people and injuries to 13 others. In response, Erdogan outlined steps to enhance cooperation between schools and law enforcement and to develop new working models.
Efforts are also being made to improve communication between schools and parents. This includes enhancing an existing parent appointment system and launching support lines to address digital addiction. Erdogan warned about the harmful effects of media portrayals of violence, asserting that presenting perpetrators as powerful or respected figures distorts young people's perception of reality. He also cautioned against detailed reporting of violent acts and the repeated broadcasting of attack footage, which may increase the risk of imitation among children.
