Striking observation from Ümit Özdağ: Even during the peak of terrorism, blood was not shed in middle schools

Meeting with readers in Bursa for the book signing of his new book "Army and Politics," Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ said, "During the periods when terrorism was at its highest in universities in Turkey, there were acts of terror and bombings, but even during the period when terrorism reached its peak in Turkey, blood was never shed in a middle school."

Stating that he completed his primary, middle, and high school education as the 1980s approached and that these periods were very troubled, Özdağ said, "The 1970s, up until the September 12, 1980 coup, were extraordinarily difficult years in Turkey where terrorism and political conflicts dominated the agenda, and there were clashes in front of schools and inside schools. Unfortunately, more than five thousand young people lost their lives in these conflicts in this environment. Blood flowed freely in Turkey," he said.

"Even during the period when terrorism reached its peak in Turkey, blood was never shed in a middle school"

Pointing out that there were school attacks in Siverek and Kahramanmaraş similar to those seen in America, Özdağ stated, "During the periods when terrorism was at its highest in universities in Turkey, there were acts of terror and bombings, but even during the period when terrorism reached its peak in Turkey, blood was never shed in a middle school. Blood was shed in a middle school, and many parents did not send their children to school the next day, and for two days after that," he expressed.

Asking, "How did we get here and how do we get out of here?" Özdağ continued as follows:

"By coming here, I don't just mean how this tragic incident happened, but how did we get here in education? How did we get to primary school being four years? How did we get to the four, three, and four system? What does this system produce? Then, how did we get to the point where universities are today? These are the things I really want to talk to you about, friends.

"Private schools were encouraged"

It was a correct educational structure for primary schools to be five years. Reducing it to four years was an ideological decision, and they reduced primary education to four years with this ideological decision. This was a mistake. This mistake was further reinforced by another mistake, and a mistake that directly affects education, again with an ideological decision, by removing the summer-winter time application from the agenda. While education is a human right and a citizen's right, and while it is the state's primary obligation to provide this education in a high-quality manner to our young citizens in public schools—just like healthcare—we have experienced and continue to experience a process where public schools are devalued and private schools are encouraged.

"The quality of public schools was deliberately lowered"

Likewise, in healthcare, while basic health services should be provided by the state in a high-quality manner, just as private hospitals are encouraged and the Turkish health system is managed by private hospital owners, colleges have been brought to the forefront in the education system. No one thinks about sending their child to a public school, and if they have the means, that is, if they are in a position to afford it financially, they definitely try to send them to a private school. However, just like the health system, public schools should be the foundation in education. However, it is unacceptable for the quality of public schools to be as it is today. During this government's term, the quality of public schools and the quality of education have been almost deliberately lowered.

"The purpose of opening a university in a district is to consider the employment of local tradesmen"

While the debate was whether there should be Imam Hatip schools or regular high schools, the number of vocational high schools decreased, and the high school format we need the most was practically eliminated. Wrong consciousness is being given to young people. Everyone should be a university graduate. It doesn't matter which department they are from. As long as it is a university. This is such a wrong understanding that causes you to lose out in life. I see university departments in such districts that steal 4 years from life. Yet, I know very well that while many universities are being opened, the goal is not to prepare young people who will receive better quality education for life, to raise young people who can produce better things for Turkey, or for them to improve themselves better. When opening a university and a faculty, certain departments of universities are moved to certain districts so that the tradesmen in district X can create more employment and how those people can rent their houses to students more. In other words, in the eyes of these people, a university student is not seen as a young Turkish citizen preparing themselves for Turkey's future, but directly as a consumer and a supplier. However, there is no such university mentality. And there is no such university education either.

"Primary school will become 5 years again"

We will increase kindergartens to the 100 percent level. We will make primary school five years again and ban apartment schools. Primary schools will turn into campus schools. That is, they must be in a large garden and have indoor and outdoor sports fields, and be ground floor plus two floors. It will not be three floors. There will be such a school in every neighborhood. And the number of students will not exceed 20. Because there are hundreds of thousands of unappointed teachers in Turkey.

"We will reopen village schools"

Two, we will reopen village schools. Even if there is one student in a village, there will definitely be one teacher. The 'Andımız' (student oath) will be recited in villages again, and the National Anthem will be performed with a flag ceremony. If you destroy the village, you destroy Turkey. That is why the Metropolitan Municipality Law must be abolished. Villages must come alive again. For the village to come alive, the existence of a primary school is essential. Then we will establish an agricultural high school in the middle of 5-6 villages. In middle schools and high schools, the public school will definitely be in the form of a campus, with sports facilities and a garden. Apartment schools will be banned here as well.

"We will fight against drugs and virtual gambling"

During this education, we will definitely fight against two things. We need to keep the youth away from these. One, we will fight against drugs, and two, we will fight against virtual gambling. Because drugs and virtual gambling target Turkish youth. It has become very easy to find drugs. We carry virtual gambling in our pockets; the state is making people play it. It is not possible for this to continue like this. More than 3 million of our young people have fallen into the trap of drugs. The barons are forming the reconnaissance units of foreign occupying armies. We have to put a stop to this very harshly. That is why we have prepared both a law called the 'Law on Combating Drugs' and a 'Law on Combating Virtual Gambling'... And we will make treatment mandatory for addiction. In other words, 'I don't want to be treated'... There is no such option. All our young people who have been involved in drugs will be taken into a mandatory treatment process.

"Iran makes rockets with science"

You are all watching the American-Israeli attack on Iran on television. Iran is a religious state and so on, but they are not making these rockets with religion. They are making these rockets with science. They hit the world's largest aircraft carrier with this supersonic missile. They attacked the aircraft carrier from 17 places at the same time. It is no coincidence that they made that missile. Universities in Iran are ahead of Turkish universities in world rankings. We are not in the top 100 or top 200. We are in the top 500. Iranians are in the top 100 and the top 200. Let's change this education system. To change this education system, let's change the AK Party. Let's change Yusuf Tekin. For that, let's gather in Zafer. Let's walk to victory together."

News Source: 12punto