As Turkey's students head back to class, many fear escalating violence

Millions of students in Turkey are set to return to school Sept. 28, and their families are deeply concerned that the students will be in danger if clashes worsen between the government and PKK.
A high school student wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes part in a protest against the education policies of the ruling AK Party, as a police vehicle is seen in the background, in Istanbul February 13, 2015. Education is the latest flashpoint between the administration of President Tayyip Erdogan, and secularist Turks who accuse him of overseeing creeping 'Islamisation' in the NATO member state. Parts of some regular schools have been requisitioned to create more places for students in "Imam Hatip" religious s
A high-school student wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes part in a protest against the education policies of the dominant Justice and Development Party, as a police vehicle is seen in the background, Istanbul, Feb. 13, 2015. - REUTERS/Murad Sezer
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Metin Gurcan
@Metin4020
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Turkey's universities and secondary schools, which went on summer vacation in June, are scheduled to reopen Sept. 28. However, growing violence is raising doubt about whether the 5.5 million university students and close to 10 million secondary school students will be resuming studies.

School originally was scheduled to start Sept. 14. The government delayed the opening for two weeks until after the Eid al-Adha religious holidays. Although government officials said the delay was designed to encourage domestic tourism, it wasn’t difficult to grasp the real reason for the decision: escalating violence.

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