Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin defends 'curriculum' with references to Özal and Erbakan: 'So their dreams can come to life'

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin said, "Actually, the essence of our curriculum is what we are talking about here today. Let us create a curriculum that will keep pace with technological developments, current developments, and social developments, and with this curriculum, our children will be better prepared for the world that awaits them. The 'Century of Turkey' Education Model, which we prepared with this logic, has unfortunately faced very superficial and very ideological criticisms. We must continue on our path without giving too much credit to such criticisms so that the dreams of Turgut Özal in 1987, the dreams of Erbakan Hoca in the 1970s, and the dreams of Nuri Demirağ in the 1930s and 1940s can come to life," he said.

Cube Incubation, the incubation center of Teknopark Istanbul, organized an international forum titled 'Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs and Artificial Intelligence Solutions in Education' at Teknopark Istanbul to discuss the effective use of artificial intelligence in the field of education.

"ÖZAL'S, ERBAKAN HOCA'S DREAM.."

Speaking at the program, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin made the following statements:

"As of April 26, we shared a curriculum package, a different package, with the public under the name 'Century of Turkey' Education Model. Actually, the essence of our curriculum is what we are talking about here today. Let us create a curriculum that will keep pace with technological developments, current developments, and social developments, and with this curriculum, our children will be better prepared for the world that awaits them. The 'Century of Turkey' Education Model, which we prepared with this logic, has unfortunately faced very superficial and very ideological criticisms. I see this as a continuation of the story I told a moment ago. And without paying attention to these, without giving too much credit to such criticisms, we must continue on our path so that the dreams of Turgut Özal in 1987, the dreams of Erbakan Hoca in the 1970s, and the dreams of Nuri Demirağ in the 1930s and 1940s can come to life. In the 'Century of Turkey' Education Model, there is actually a lot of what we are talking about and will talk about here. One of the issues for which our children are most criticized in OECD reports regarding us is the development of our children's digital skills. With the 'Century of Turkey' Education Model, we have made very important changes in terms of both our children's digital literacy and the development of their digital skills, as well as the application of artificial intelligence applications to education and training processes."

EMPHASIS ON 'ADAPTATION'

Minister Tekin continued his speech as follows:

"While ensuring this adaptation, we must do so without moving away from the values that make us who we are, the values that make us human. When I, as Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, say this, we are criticized and debated. 'What do you mean? Whose values? What values?' A 2023 report by the United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Committee. A report on ensuring the right to education, progress, and critical challenges. This report establishes a framework plan with 4 principles. One of these framework plans is the control of digitalization in education. From which perspective will it be controlled? The United Nations draws attention to this issue. It says, 'Be careful,' it says. It states that artificial intelligence applications and digitalization applications in education can bring about a result where fundamental rights and freedoms related to basic human rights, human rights, and basic values related to people are marginalized and destroyed. Therefore, we are trying to do this in the 'Century of Turkey' Education Model. We say, 'We will keep pace with technological developments and current developments. But we will never forget that we are human. We will never give up on upholding human values. While taking all these steps, we will do these things without ever putting our human reflexes on the back burner. I hope that this workshop and the protocol we will sign in its aftermath will be the continuation of these efforts and the beginning of a process that our children and grandchildren will proudly say, 'I'm glad they started it. I'm glad they pioneered such a process.'"

News Source: İHA