Statement from TÜSİAD on religious communities

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin defended cooperation with religious communities in his speech at the General Assembly of Parliament, prompting a statement on religious sects from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD).

"THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE A PLACE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM"

In a written statement issued by TÜSİAD, it was emphasized that "in the future, there will be a greater need than ever for free-thinking individuals in both social and business life, and that the realization of ambitious goals set in every dimension of development requires this," adding that "considering our country's needs in this direction and the painful experiences of the recent past, there should be no place for religious communities and sects in the education system."

"WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCES"

The full statement is as follows:

“In the second century of our Republic, we need a contemporary education mobilization for a Turkey that has achieved economic and social development and is a democratic, secular state of law.

Aligning the curriculum with 21st-century skills is of great importance for equipping our youth with the competencies required by the age and for an economy with high added value. Our priority should be to ensure that every student has access to quality education without leaving anyone behind. In our age, we must bring our young generations together with an education based on critical and creative thinking, not rote learning. In the future, we will need free-thinking individuals in both social and business life more than ever. The realization of the ambitious goals we have set in every dimension of development requires this.

Considering our country's needs in this direction and the painful experiences of the recent past, there should be no place for religious communities and sects in the education system. It is not possible to say that having issues in the education system that are incompatible with contemporary education is consistent with our country's economic and social development goals. It is essential that science-based policies be implemented in the field of education, which affects a very wide circle including millions of students, parents, teachers, the business world, labor, the technology sector, and academia.”

News Source: 12punto