High School Students Manufacture Cleaning Products

A high school in Samsun is producing cleaning supplies under the brand name "Ata Kimya." Following the emergence of coronavirus in Turkey, production of disinfectant materials accelerated due to heavy demand. The school is receiving orders from provinces across the Black Sea region. Samsun Atakum Vocational and Technical High School operates like a factory. The chemistry brand "Ata" was established 31 years ago as a result of work carried out by students and teachers in the chemistry department. Today, the high school continues production and sells cleaning products and disinfectants to hospitals, public institutions, municipalities, schools and student dormitories. Following the emergence of coronavirus in Turkey, the high school—operating around the clock due to heavy demand—earned recognition by manufacturing 21 different types of disinfectant materials. Additionally, graduate students are employed at this production facility upon completion of their schooling. "Students are both producing and preparing for life" Providing information about the work, Atakum District National Education Director İrfan Yetik said: "Ata Kimya is a registered trademark of Samsun. In light of the recent virus situation, our school began producing disinfectant materials. We are trying to meet demand. With schools closed, our teachers and students continue working around the clock in production. We first met the needs of schools in our province. We are trying to meet the needs of other public institutions. Of course there are also requests from other provinces. We are trying to fulfill these according to a plan. Depending on our ability to source raw materials, we will meet the needs of other provinces as well. This situation has made us understand once more the importance of vocational high schools. Our minister emphasizes the importance of vocational high schools in every speech. We are asking parents to direct their students toward vocational high schools. The students here are both producing and preparing for life."