The 'Century of Turkey' Education Model against the Enlightenment revolution

“A new Century” concept has inspired hope in humanity throughout history. In every era, mankind has believed that this highly appealing concept would overcome its problems, and has remained fixated on expectations of civilization, prosperity, enlightenment, democracy, freedom, and peace.

The artificial “Century of Turkey” concept, put forward by the AKP by exploiting this perception, carries no meaning beyond settling scores with the Republic.

Yet history offers us countless proofs that the Century of Turkey began with the abolition of the sultanate and the caliphate, and the establishment of a fully independent, secular, and modern Republic of Turkey based on national sovereignty.

One of the most important cornerstones of the Republic of Turkey has undoubtedly been secular education, which prioritizes reason and science, purified from dogmas.

The young Republic prioritized the structuring of education, and the Law on Unification of Education was among the first laws enacted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

Thus, an end was put to non-scientific education, which was carried out in neighborhood schools, primary schools, madrasas, lodges, and convents, and which instilled the consciousness of being a “subject” in society.

The Republican Generations, raised with the National Education understanding of the Republican era, have been the greatest guarantee of Atatürk’s Principles and Revolutions for 100 years.

It is precisely for this reason that the AKP plans to open Republican values to debate and destroy secular and scientific education by launching a new Education Model.

The “Century of Turkey Education Model Draft” announced by the Ministry of National Education reveals that a great chaos awaits us in education.

Although the phrase “prepared based on the fundamental principles of Turkish National Education” is included in the first paragraph of the draft, the goal of “raising youth committed to Atatürk’s reforms and principles and to Atatürk’s Nationalism as expressed in the Constitution,” which is included in Law No. 1739, is not included in the draft.

The provision in Article 12 of the Law, “secularism is essential in Turkish national education,” has been excluded from the draft.

The fundamental concepts upon which our civilization is built are listed as follows: “sound mind, sound heart, sound taste.”

The education methodology of National Education, which is based on reason and science, has been completely abandoned. Instead, “focusing on raising a ‘kamil insan’ (mature human) and addressing the dimensions of soul and body that include the heart and mind” has been adopted as the basis.

It is clear that this so-called education model, structured with abstract, complex, and incomprehensible concepts, has a single purpose: MORALITY. And morality has only one root: RELIGION.

In the new model, “ilim” (religious knowledge) has replaced science. It is explicitly stated that “it will be possible for those who reach ‘ilim’—that is, religious knowledge—to understand and make sense of the world, and that generations willing to reach this knowledge will be raised.”

The “Virtue-Value-Virtue Model” integrated into the system is proof of this.

We also learn from the draft published by the Ministry of National Education that this method is taken as the basis in the preparation of “History of the Republic of Turkey and Atatürkism Textbooks” and that the books are prepared “according to a new understanding of history.”

Aside from reducing the hours of the course taught in the 8th and 12th grades, it is clear that the main goal is to belittle Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s role in the War of Independence, attribute success primarily to the “people,” present the Ottoman Sultanate as a stakeholder in the National Struggle, and trivialize the Republican era by starting the democratization movement from the late Ottoman period.

The destination the AKP wants to reach by putting forward its new understanding of history is clear. By creating an unrealistic perception of history, it aims to turn the youth into a tool for its own Political Islamist and Neo-Ottomanist politics and to take revenge on the Enlightenment revolution....

This model, imposed on Turkey under the name of the Century of Turkey Education Model, will not only be the end of contemporary and scientific education but will also transform Turkey into an actor of the Islamic geography.

This Model, which constitutes an attack on the spirit, essence, principles, and values of Republican Education and is left open to the guidance of teachers, should never be allowed to be implemented.

Democratic Mass Organizations are expressing their reactions to this model. However, there is a need for these reactions to unite, grow, and gain continuity on the agenda. The way to achieve this is possible through the CHP proving that it is Atatürk’s Party.

It is time for the CHP Chairman to show the same strong reaction he shows to the problems of educators to those who want to destroy the Enlightenment Revolution and Atatürk’s education model.

Today is the day. Tomorrow may be too late!