Textbook changed in the middle of the night!
Following an outcry on social media, the Ministry of National Education quickly changed the erroneous content regarding the Ergenekon Epic in the digital version of its textbooks.
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The Ministry of National Education used the phrase "Mongol epic" in the first edition of the 10th-grade Turkish Language and Literature textbook while describing the Ergenekon Epic. After this situation was noticed on social media and sparked intense criticism, the MoNE took action. With the revision made specifically to the digital book, the term "Mongol" was removed and replaced with the definition "Turkish epic." Thus, the community that melted the iron in the epic was also changed to "Turks."
REACTIONS TO THE ERROR
In the printed version of the textbook, it was stated that the heroes in the epic were a Mongol family and that the iron was melted by the Mongols. In the digital version, however, the text now reads: "Two Turkish families who survived the war took refuge in a valley called Ergenekon, surrounded by high mountains with no known exit. As their population increased over the years, they wanted to leave. Upon this, they melted the iron in the mountain to open a path for themselves, emerged from Ergenekon, returned to their old homeland, and fought their enemies once again."
CRITICISM FROM UNIONS AND EXPERTS
Talip Geylan, Chairman of the Turkish Education Union (Türk Eğitim Sen), stated regarding the issue: "In the 10th-grade Turkish Language and Literature textbook, the Ergenekon Epic is described as a Mongol epic. What kind of negligence is it to attribute the Ergenekon Epic, the most important narrative at the foundation of thousands of years of Turkish history and culture, to the Mongols?"
Prof. Dr. Necati Cemaloğlu, a faculty member at Gazi University Faculty of Education, commented: "Even in Chinese documents from the 6th century, it says 'Ergenekon is a Turkish epic.' The MoNE's 10th-grade Turkish Language and Literature textbook, which calls the Ergenekon Epic a Mongol epic, should be recalled immediately, and legal action should be taken against those responsible."
Although the error was corrected on the digital platform following the quick change, the future of the printed books and the repercussions of the debate continue.