We can look at the economy later, pay attention to education

Turkey is in a state of multiple decay and collapse in every field, from the economy to social morality, from its military to its judiciary, and from education to healthcare, across all state institutions. Within this tangle of problems, the voter's priority is different, the AKP Chairman and President's priority is different, and CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's priority is different... When we abstract ourselves from daily events and politics, the priorities that emerge for Turkey's security are different. Let's make a comparison of agenda priorities.  

Bad political choices in the economy, poor management, corruption, the system of plunder, and the problems caused by refugees were not of much concern to the voter until the March 31 local elections. These problems were the concern of a small number of voters. And they were forced to cast their votes not as they wished, but "reluctantly."

As the terrible economic management became mired in a swamp and the system of plunder grew more brazen, income distribution deteriorated significantly, and misery became so widespread that the "empty pot" turned the ruling party into the "second party."

The voter's primary agenda right now is the cost of living. And again, for the majority of voters, it is the refugees, whom they have not seen as a threat to the country's survival for more than 10 years. Refugees are still not a "survival issue" for them, but this time they are a threat to their "bread and jobs." 

The apparent agenda priority of AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan is to create a new constitution. What does he want to change in a constitution that he already does not abide by and that does not limit him in practice? Looking from where I and those who think like me stand, the intention seems to be to eliminate the principle of secularism in the constitution and the concept of the Turkish Nation, which is the supporting pillar of the unitary state and its indivisible integrity. We are talking about making a "New Constitution," not a "Constitutional Amendment." 

If you say "Constitutional Amendment," you cannot touch the four unchangeable articles. But if you say "New Constitution," you bury the first four articles in history. 

This parliament, let alone making a new constitution, does not have the authority or the right to even make a constitutional amendment; it no longer has it. Even for opposition parties to enter into this discussion would be a major concession to the secular and unitary state structure. 

Let's come to the agenda of the CHP and Özgür Özel. Regarding the meeting with the AKP Chairman and President, Özel says, "We will not be imprisoned by Erdoğan's agenda. Wherever I go, I will explain the nation's troubles and problems."  

It is both natural and necessary for politicians in the opposition, especially the CHP, the first party of the March 31 elections, and its Chairman Özgür Özel, to keep the cost of living on the agenda. However, let's say not "Yes, but it's not enough," but "Yes, but it is not enough" here. 

While the nation is struggling with its biggest problem, hunger, it may not even be aware of the problems that deeply affect the country in general. A political leader is not someone who only sees the nation's troubles, voices them, proposes solutions, and follows them. In addition, it is about leading the nation for the country's salvation, survival, peace, security, prosperity, and development. A leader is not one who follows the nation or society, but one who takes them along.  

FULL SPEED BACK TOWARDS THE MIDDLE AGES…

We have an agenda more important than the economy. The nation is not yet aware of it. Unfortunately, we see that the political institution is not aware of it either. Curriculum change in education…

As an economist, I can say this definitively: Turkey has major problems in the economy. However, before the economy, there are two items that cannot be postponed to tomorrow and must be kept on the agenda constantly. One is the issue of refugees, which the nation is just beginning to realize. We will address this issue in another article. The most important is the deadly blow that the counter-revolution in education is about to put into effect quietly.  

It is obvious what the AKP government has done to education in 22 years. In the name of raising a religious and vengeful generation, it lowered the quality of education, and a generation without a profession, unqualified, and far from analytical thinking was raised. Imams and sects entered even kindergartens. It was not enough; now they are after a new preparation. After the election, between the struggle for livelihood on one side and the new constitution debates on the other, a very heavy and deadly blow is about to be dealt to education and Turkey's future…

The draft of the new education curriculum announced by the Ministry of National Education under the name "Turkey Century Education Model" has nothing to do with education or science. It is planned to tear the Turkish child and youth away from the 21st century and throw them into the darkness of the Middle Ages. According to educators, the aim of raising disciples for Political Islam instead of a free and contemporary human being stands out. 

Our children and youth will be torn away from national consciousness and the consciousness of equality in every field of republican citizenship. The new generation will be raised not as free individuals of the nation who do not think, do not wonder, and have no profession, but as servants of the ummah who obey the sultan.  

Yesterday, my dear friend Taner Bildik wrote in 12 Punto. It is worth repeating. A brief information about the curriculum:

Every year from the 4th grade to the 12th grade, there is a Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge Course; every year from the 5th grade to the 11th grade, there is a Life of Our Prophet Course; and again from the 5th grade to the 11th grade, there is a Quran Course. 

The History of the Republic of Turkey and Atatürkism course will be taken in the 8th and 12th grades. After the brains have been thoroughly washed and the young generation has been raised as enemies of the republic and Atatürk…

ROADS TO MISERY AND SLAVERY

Yes, the Turkish nation's primary problem is the struggle for livelihood. It is natural for this to be the nation's primary problem in a country where misery and hunger prevail. Worse is the state of war. As an economist, I attach great importance to the current account deficit (external deficits) and external debt problem, which turned into a permanent swamp during the AKP government period, as one of Turkey's most important problems in the economy. As the Great Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, societies that consume more than they produce first lose their dignity and then their freedom. A current account deficit means consuming more than you produce and borrowing. A permanent current account deficit costs Turkey its independence and brings misery and slavery to society. But worse is the human deficit.

A religion-referenced education system reduces the productivity of human capital, which is the most important resource of countries, makes it unqualified, and causes a human deficit. A human deficit is worse than a current account deficit. It brings both misery and slavery, as well as the darkness of the Middle Ages. 80 percent of the population is below the poverty line. This population does not have the means to provide a good education for their children outside of the state. All the children of this population, with this education system, will live hungry and miserable like ancient and medieval slaves for the rest of their lives, unaware of citizenship consciousness and human rights. 

The opposition will of course keep the nation's primary problem on the agenda constantly. But political leadership requires not following the tail of the public, but dragging the masses along. I don't know what Özel expects from the meeting he will have with the President. By saying "There is no early election on our agenda," Özel creates a great opportunity for AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan. I can more or less guess what the President might do in the coming period. Let this be the subject of another article.   

Without wasting any time, there is an urgent need for an early election to solve this education and refugee issue first and foremost, and of course to prevent the collapse in the economy. We have to keep the early election on the agenda on one hand, and fend off the deadly education move of the counter-revolution on the other. A very strong "No" campaign must be launched urgently on every platform—in parliament, in squares, and on the streets—by democratic means against the curriculum prepared by the Ministry of National Education under the title "Turkey Century Education Model." I think that resisting this great attack of the counter-revolution together with labor unions, chambers, bar associations, and all non-governmental organizations that believe in the secular republic, organizing this resistance, and preventing this curriculum change should be the primary agenda of every patriot, especially the main opposition party. It is very sad that no one except unions in the field of education and a handful of journalists sees this deadly blow in education.