In Istanbul, Turkey, teachers demonstrated this Saturday, May 18 at the call of the main opposition party, the social-democratic CHP. A gathering to denounce the growing influence, according to them, of power over National Education, particularly its exploitation for political and ideological purposes.
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With our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer
Among the demonstrators in front of Istanbul town hall, in Türkiyethere were of course teachers – active, retired or waiting for a position – but also many Istanbul residents who said they were worried about the future of the school, and therefore, for the future of Turkey .
“ No to retrograde programs “, we read on the demonstrators’ signs. The new Turkish school programs, which will be applied from the next school year, aim to “ to educate virtuous individuals “. They are full of references to the “ moral “, to ” values “, At ” patriotism » and “ family “.
Yasemin, who has taught in primary schools for more than 20 years, is saddened: “ Every year, the programs move further and further away from secularism. I am absolutely not against religion. But for religion to increasingly permeate our teaching to the detriment of science and secularism is unacceptable. » Another reason for tension: the intervention in schools, since the last school year, of imams as “ spiritual advisors “.
Abolition of secular schools
Yasar, a retired teacher, says President Erdogan wants to abolish the secular school created 100 years ago by the founder of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: “ If you put theologians in schools, which should be reserved for teachers, it is a great loss for the future of this country. Our children no longer learn Atatürk’s principles. Atatürk has even almost disappeared from the programs! »
The debate on the programs, however, highlights deep divisions within the teaching profession. The main union, close to power, conversely calls for more “ religious references », and this from nursery school.
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