Turkey’s Education Ministry is reportedly introducing a significant reform in the school curriculum, incorporating Islamic references across various subjects, as per BirGün daily’s Thursday report.
The alleged change involves integrating Islamic references across a wide range of subjects, representing a departure from the traditionally secular educational approach.
As per BirGün’s journalist Mustafa Bildircin, this new curriculum will not only embed Islamic perspectives in science subjects like biology and chemistry but also in humanities. In biology, for instance, Islamic viewpoints and scholarly opinions are said to be included in the study of anatomy. Geography lessons are also reported to adopt Islamic references when explaining the Earth’s formation and terrain.
The reform reportedly extends to renaming the curriculum topic from “Turkish Scholars” to “Islamic Scholars”, indicating a broader emphasis on religious context. Additionally, the educational approach is said to be shifting towards student-led research, reducing the teacher’s direct involvement in the learning process. This methodology aligns with practices in several European countries but raises concerns among Turkish educators about the practicality of such an approach in Turkey’s current school infrastructure.
This alleged educational shift has sparked debate over its potential impact on the secular foundations of Turkey’s educational system. According to BirGün’s report, these changes could lead to an increased focus on religious teachings in schools, which may deepen existing inequalities due to disparities in school resources and infrastructure.
