Minister Tekin’s response on the Heybeliada Seminary: It is not a school for religious education

Discussions regarding whether the Heybeliada Seminary will be reopened have been brought to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin provided an assessment of the school's current status in his response to written parliamentary questions from deputies.

In his response, Tekin did not share a direct timeline or a definitive decision regarding the reopening of the school. The Minister reminded that religious education in Turkey is conducted under the supervision and oversight of the state.

Stating that minority schools operate within the framework of obligations set by international agreements, primarily the Treaty of Lausanne, Tekin defined the school's legal status as a "private secondary education institution."

Operating under the name Heybeliada Greek Boys' High School, this institution is not a school where religious education is provided; it holds the status of a private secondary education institution under the Law on Private Educational Institutions and has no students.

The school's operations were halted in 1971 following legislative changes regarding higher education. While the possibility of its reopening has been debated in the public eye recently, it was reported that Minister Tekin visited the school in May and expressed his personal desire for it to be reopened.

Tekin also stated that the ministry's actions are carried out in accordance with universal principles of human rights, the constitution, international agreements, and relevant legislation.

News Source: 12punto