The status of French schools turns into a diplomatic showdown and worries parents

The status of French schools turns into a diplomatic showdown

Turkish children could soon be deprived of schooling in French schools in Istanbul and Ankara. This is the threat brandished by the Turkish government, which is pressuring France to sign a bilateral agreement on the status of these two schools. The tensions are long-standing, but in recent weeks, the affair has turned into a diplomatic showdown. To the point of threatening the future of the two establishments, which together welcome more than 2,400 students, the overwhelming majority of whom are Turkish citizens.

2 min

With our correspondent in Ankara, Anne Andlauer

From her vacation spot, Ayse received a message from the embassy of France. She informed her that the children turkish could be deprived of French school from the start of the next school year, like his seven-year-old son, who has been attending the Pierre Loti school in Istanbul for four years. I can’t believe it. We’ve been totally demoralized since we heard the news, we know absolutely nothing about what’s going on. I feel like our government is escalating tensions unnecessarily. ” explains Ayse.

Ankara does not recognize the two French schools and wants to sign a bilateral agreement with Paris. Turkey is demanding in particular a ” reciprocity “, or the opening in France of Turkish schools recognized by the State. It also requests that the programs of the two French schools ” getting closer ” partly from those followed in Turkish schools.

Oussema Trigui, a parent representative at Charles de Gaulle High School in Ankara, wants to remain confident. He believes that it is time to give these schools a proper status. My first reaction when I saw parents getting outraged on the WhatsApp group was to say: “But did you know that the school has a vague legal status?“Parents who send their Turkish children to French schools are taking a risk. And it is certainly not normal to have this risk. I think we absolutely must seize this moment to try to find a solution and put an end to it.” “, he believes.

With a month and a half to go before the start of the school year, parents are hoping for a quick outcome.

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