Tunis: School teachers suspended classes across Tunisia on Tuesday in protest over the death of three students following the collapse of a school wall in the central Sidi Bouzid province. "Today is a day of mourning, as declared by our federation in response to the tragic incident that occurred yesterday at Mezzouna Secondary School," Mohamed Essafi, secretary-general of the General Federation of Secondary Education of the powerful Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), told Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, Essafi mentioned that he was attending the funeral of two of the students, while another had been buried the previous day. The suspension of classes serves not only as an act of mourning but also as a form of protest against the deteriorating conditions of educational institutions in the country. Essafi strongly criticized the supervisory authority for what he termed a severe level of negligence, holding them fully responsible for the situation.

He emphasized the importance of restoring dignity to the public school system, highlighting that its core mission is to provide students with a sense of safety. He called for a comprehensive reassessment of public school infrastructure to prevent future tragedies.

In the wake of the incident, hundreds of Tunisian youths took to the streets of Mezzouna, setting tires ablaze and chanting slogans against the authorities. The protests followed the funerals of the deceased students, reflecting widespread anger and frustration.

There has been no immediate response from Tunisian authorities regarding the protest. However, on Monday, Tunisian President Kais Saied expressed deep sorrow over the students' deaths and promised to hold those responsible accountable.