9-year-olds questioned over 'insulting the President'... Yusuf Tekin speaks for the first time

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin has spoken for the first time regarding the questions posed to primary school students during an inspection conducted in İzmir on February 20.

In the incident brought to light by journalist Barış Terkoğlu, it was stated that during the inspection, 9-year-old children were asked questions such as, "Is the religion class being taught?", "Is another subject being taught instead of religion?", "What do you understand when you hear the word religion?", and "Is the President being insulted in class?"

DEFENSE: “INSPECTION CONDUCTED UPON COMPLAINT”

Speaking to A Haber, known for its proximity to the government, Minister Tekin stated that allegations regarding private schools deviating from the curriculum or using expressions containing insults toward the President were being investigated.

Stating that approximately 75 thousand schools across Turkey are inspected by the Board of Inspection both routinely and upon complaint, Tekin said that inspectors conduct investigations if a report is received regarding a deviation from the curriculum.

Tekin used the following expressions in his statement:

“It is not just the religious culture class; in some other classes, children have shifted toward exam preparation or similar different lessons outside the definitions in the curriculum. They do not do physical education; instead, they put in an extra math class. However, all our programs are prepared by pedagogues in a way that is appropriate for our children's age group. We constantly inspect that these lessons are given as they are in the program. It does not matter if it is a religious culture class or another class. If music is not being played in a music class, and math is being done instead, and such a complaint is received, we inspect it.”

STATEMENT REGARDING THE SCHOOL IN İZMİR

Stating that the inspection in İzmir was also initiated upon a complaint, Tekin said, "We received a complaint regarding the school in question. Our inspectors went and conducted an inspection. While this inspection is being carried out, children are interviewed by the relevant guidance service so that they are not psychologically affected. It is inspected in compliance with this sensitivity."

Tekin also made the following assessment regarding the authority to inspect:

“We inspect all our institutions routinely. When such a complaint is received, our inspectors go, talk to the relevant parties, hold meetings, write their report, and we apply sanctions according to the report. We did this in the İzmir incident as well. What we did is quite natural; it is an inspection we conducted based on the regulatory position of the Ministry of National Education.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

During the inspection carried out at Tevfik Fikret Schools on February 20, it was stated that students selected from different grades, ranging from 4th grade of primary school to high school level, were taken to the library and subjected to questioning.

According to parents, students were asked questions regarding the religion class and allegations of insulting the President; after the statements, their identification numbers were taken and they were made to sign documents.

One parent stated that their 9-year-old daughter was taken out of class and questioned, and that her identification number was taken and she was made to sign, adding that they would file a complaint. Some parents also alleged that high school students were made to take an oath and were asked the question, "Do you hear insults against our President at home or on the street?"

News Source: 12punto