Theologians support Metin Külünk's criticism of the İmam Hatip model: 'Youth have been distanced from scientific thinking'

İlkcan KEMER -12punto.com.tr /EXCLUSIVE

Education policies, frequently criticized by educators and parents, have recently come to the fore again with the new curriculum, the 'Maarif Model', and policies of 'İmam Hatip-ization'. 

The reduction in the number of courses in basic sciences and natural sciences in the curriculum has sparked criticism from many experts.

The removal of subjects such as evolutionary theory, philosophy, and logic from the curriculum is also frequently associated with the government's education policies. 

Metin Külünk, a former deputy and one of the founders of the AKP, who was a guest on the "Filtresiz" program with Özge Uzun on the 12punto YouTube channel and made striking statements regarding the agenda, also leveled criticisms at education policies.

'WITH A CLASSIC İmam Hatip HIGH SCHOOL MODEL...'

Külünk had recorded his criticisms on the program as follows: 

"What is the secret to victory? It lies in the revolution of the mind, the liberation of the mind, and the freedom of intelligence. So what must we do? They shouldn't take offense; there cannot be an education system where philosophy is not a core subject, where mathematics is not a core subject, where chemistry is not a core subject, where physics is not a core subject, where biology is not a core subject, and where anthropology, mythology, and archaeology are not core subjects. 

My brother, the Islamic world and Muslims cannot provide the answers to these questions with a classic İmam Hatip high school model."

'EDUCATION IDEOLOGY: PREPARATION FOR IDEOLOGICAL PROPAGANDA'

Following Külünk's assessments and the resurgence of the İmam Hatip-ization issue in education, speaking to 12punto, Theologian Prof. Dr. Şahin Filiz, stated that the current education system is an 'education ideology' of the ruling party, and regarding the number of İmam Hatip schools and their curriculum content, "This is not education; it is a form of ideological propaganda preparation that is far from being scientific." he said. 

Theologian and Author Cemil Kılıç meanwhile, assessing the system as 'content even behind İmam Hatip-ization,' stated, "The new regulations have a much narrower and more insular content, even behind that of İmam Hatip schools." he used these expressions.

'IN A SOCIETY WITHOUT SECULAR EDUCATION, IMMORALITY TAKES ROOT'

Emphasizing that the education model is reflected in the curriculum across Turkey, not just in İmam Hatip schools, Filiz said, "With the 'Century of Turkey' curriculum, we see that the mentality of İmam Hatip-ization has permeated the entire national education system. There is a vast difference between religious education and the propaganda of religion. This situation not only harms the education system but also damages religious values." he stated.

Kılıç, drawing attention to the importance of secularism in education, said, “In a society without secular education, immorality takes root and failure is born. The foundation of morality is primarily the adoption and dissemination of secular thought.” he said. 

'YOUTH HAVE BEEN DISTANCED FROM SCIENTIFIC THINKING'

Regarding the decline of basic sciences in the system, Cemil Kılıç noted the following:

“More space should be given to subjects like philosophy and logic that teach how to think. The number of religious courses should be reduced, and these courses should be turned into 'history of religions' classes, without grades or exams. Furthermore, current religious courses have content that destroys the individual's grasp of cause-and-effect relationships. Everything is attributed to 'divine providence' through a flawed interpretation. However, there is a cause-and-effect relationship in nature and life, and this is the foundation of scientific thinking.” 

Kılıç also underlined that young people have been distanced from factual reality and scientific thinking.

'EVEN CONSERVATIVES ARE NOT SENDING THEIR CHILDREN!'

Filiz pointed out that while the quantity of İmam Hatip schools has increased, their quality has decreased, noting that this process is pedagogically and scientifically flawed. 

Stating that even conservative families no longer want to send their children to İmam Hatip schools for this reason, Şahin Filiz said the following:

"In the past, conservative families would also send their children to İmam Hatip schools because there was not such a huge difference between state schools and Imam Hatips. However, now, an impression is being created that it is mandatory for everyone to send their children to an İmam Hatip high school. We see that even those who defend Imam Hatips do not send their own children to these schools, because they also know that this is wrong."

'UMAYYAD-IZING EDUCATION IN TURKEY...'

Cemil Kılıç also drew attention to the 'lack of secularism' in the system and continued his words as follows:

"With this education model, which is devoid of secularism, it is impossible for Turkey to reach a contemporary point or a civilized level. The AKP is acting with a culture of allegiance, aiming to 'Bedouinize' and 'Umayyad-ize' Turkey in education. As a result, it will inevitably create a poor society, a poor country, and unhappy, obsessive individuals who will be detached from factual reality and held captive by superstitions, fairy tales, and myths." 

'THEY ARE INCREASING ATHEISM'

Noting that the system harms not only education but also religion, Şahin Filiz said, "If courses such as philosophy, logic, and psychology are not enriched in terms of quantity and content as they were in the past, ideas such as atheism and agnosticism will increase even further" he added.