Parents in Turkey have been protesting against the ‘Turkey Century Education Model’ recently announced by the Education Ministry, which they believe could steer the educational system towards religious indoctrination.
The model was introduced online by the Ministry on 28 April and spans over 3,000 pages, yet reportedly lacks contributions from certain faith and community groups, sparking widespread concern.
At a public gathering in Dersim (officially known as Tunceli), parents said that the government’s initiative appears to be cultivating a generation that is both “devout and vindictive”, undermining secular educational values. “They are turning everything into religion; we want our children to learn subjects like mathematics and geography,” stated Sakine Kaya, a concerned grandparent. She emphasised the necessity of a balanced education including science and technology to ensure a prosperous future for the country.
The significance of the protest from Dersim, known for its distinct Alevi population, is profound due to the area’s history of facing discrimination in Turkey. This context heightens concerns that the new educational curriculum might push a Sunni-centric ideology, further marginalising Alevi beliefs.
The controversy also encompasses specific content in the new curriculum, such as the inclusion in middle school courses of the 20th century conservative Muslim intellectual Nurettin Topçu, who has been criticised for his derogatory remarks about Alevism. This has added to the tensions, with parents like Songül Bulut also denouncing other projects like the previous ÇEDES* project of converting schools into religious institutions, thus diverting education away from science.
*(Çevreme Duyarlıyım, Değerlerime Sahip Çıkıyorum – I am sensitive to my environment, I uphold my values)
