101st Anniversary of the March 3 Revolution Laws

News: 12punto.com.tr

The Association for Supporting Contemporary Living (ÇYDD), the General Health Workers' Union (Genel Sağlık-İş) affiliated with the United Public-Work Confederation (Birleşik Kamu-İş), and the Kemalist Enlightenment Association issued statements on the 101st anniversary of the March 3 Revolution Laws. The statements emphasized secularism, secular, public-oriented and scientific education, and the rule of law.

The statement by ÇYDD, titled "The March 3 Revolution Laws are the Guarantee of Secular, Scientific, and Public-Oriented Education," included the following expressions:
"The foundations of our Republic were laid through a great struggle and shaped by the principles of secularism, contemporary education, and social equality. March 3, 1924, is a turning point in Turkey's journey toward modernization. With the abolition of the Caliphate, the adoption of the Law on Unification of Education (Tevhid-i Tedrisat), and the closure of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Foundations, the Republic was established on secular foundations and education was based on scientific principles. A secular, scientific, co-educational, and public-oriented approach to education is of critical importance for the liberation of the individual and social development. Ensuring that education is equal and scientifically based for everyone is the guarantee of a contemporary society.
However, today, the achievements of this deep-rooted revolution are under serious threat. The gaining of influence in education by structures linked to religious sects and communities has become one of the greatest elements threatening the secular education system. The Ministry of National Education's policies threaten the secular structure of education by replacing science and rational thought with religious teachings. The intervention of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in the field of education through projects like ÇEDES leads to the proliferation of religiously based programs in schools and deepens practices contrary to the Law on Unification of Education. Practices created during this process, such as the ÇEDES Project and the 'Maarif Model,' impose a religiously based understanding of education instead of an Ataturkist and scientific one.

Our students have been forced to take on workloads beyond their age through MESEM projects, being distanced from their right to education and turned into cheap labor. These practices weaken our youth's ability to think freely and prevent them from growing up as contemporary, questioning individuals.

The bright future of our Republic can only be realized through a scientific, questioning, secular, and contemporary education system. As the Association for Supporting Contemporary Living, we will continue our struggle against these wrong practices without compromising our commitment to the fundamental principles of the Republic. Secular and scientific education is an important achievement of our Republic; it is also the key and guarantee of our future.

With this belief, as we have for 36 years, we respectfully announce to the public that we will continue to uphold the founding principles of the Republic of Turkey and the Atatürk reforms, and that we will continue to be the Future Guarantee of a Contemporary Turkey."

GENERAL HEALTH WORKERS' UNION (GENEL SAĞLIK-İŞ): "HAPPY 101ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH 3 REVOLUTION LAWS"

The statement from Genel Sağlık-İş, affiliated with Birleşik Kamu-İş, is as follows:
"The March 3, 1924 Revolution Laws, one of the most important achievements of our Republic, laid the foundations for the Republic of Turkey, established under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, to become a contemporary, secular, independent, and democratic state governed by the rule of law. With the March 3, 1924 Revolution Laws:
-The Caliphate was abolished, and the foundations of a secular state structure were laid.
-The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Foundations (Şeriye ve Evkaf Vekâleti) was abolished, and religious and state affairs were separated from each other.
-The Ministry of General Staff (Erkân-ı Harbiye Vekâleti) was abolished, ensuring the separation of the military from politics.
-The Law on Unification of Education (Tevhid-i Tedrisat Kanunu) was adopted, creating a scientific, contemporary, and egalitarian system in education.
-The Revolution Laws ensured the construction of a secular, democratic Republic based on the rule of law. As Genel Sağlık-İş, we will continue to defend the independent, secular, democratic, and social state governed by the rule of law that Atatürk bequeathed to us!
Happy 101st anniversary of the March 3 Revolution Laws!
Long live the Republic! Long live Secularism!"

In the March 3 statement by the Kemalist Enlightenment Association, it was stated: "On the 101st anniversary of the March 3 Revolution Laws, one of the most important milestones of our secular Republic, we respectfully commemorate the Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the heroes of the National Struggle who fought with all their being for Turkey to become a contemporary and democratic country."