A plan to take ÇEDES to the next level: Is the Ministry of National Education preparing to have imams teach 'Etiquette' in schools?

The Ministry of National Education's (MEB) new curriculum, titled “Turkey Century Education Model,” will begin to be implemented in the first grade of every level in the new term. 

Work by education unions against the new curriculum is also ongoing. In this context, Eğitim-İş had its scientific board prepare a report on the courses in order to take the new curriculum to court. Eğitim-İş Union Scientific Board Member Prof. Dr. Dilek Gözütok also prepared a report on the content of the “Human Rights, Citizenship and Democracy” course to be taught in the 4th grade.

'THE AIM IS TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT'S WRONG POLICIES APPROVED'

According to a report by Aytunç Ürkmez from Cumhuriyet; Regarding the course curriculum prepared within the scope of the new curriculum, Gözütok stated, “Those who wrote this text, whose authors are unknown, are inadequate in the field of human rights and citizenship education, unless it was done intentionally. If a textbook is written in accordance with this text and read to children, the children's ‘right to learn human rights’ is violated. The course focuses on the child's right to lead a happy, healthy, and safe life, while other rights are ignored. I wonder how many children in Turkey actually have this right?”

Regarding the statement in the curriculum that “it is emphasized by supporting with examples that Turkey is one of the countries that carries out the most aid activities in the world in proportion to its income and hosts many people in need of help,” Gözütok commented, “Those who prepared this text aimed to have a 10-year-old child approve the government's wrong policies instead of preparing an education program on human rights, citizenship, and democracy.”

‘A COURSE IS BEING PREPARED FOR IMAMS’

The Diyanet's call in last week's sermon for children to choose the “Etiquette course” had drawn reactions. Evaluating the etiquette course, Gözütok said: “It seems the MEB is preparing a course for the imams (spiritual counselors) it has appointed/will appoint to schools. With this course, the MEB is teaching religion under the guise of a subject area. It is understood that these courses will be taught by imams appointed to schools.”

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST REACTIONARY PRINCIPAL

The Secularism Assembly filed a complaint with the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Ergin Kaya Kırbıyık, Principal of Bursa Mahmut Celalettin Ökten Imam Hatip Secondary School, due to his reactionary statements.

In the incident brought to the agenda by our newspaper, Kırbıyık had stated at a parent meeting held on August 7 that female students could not receive education without headscarves at the school, and that he would intervene in the clothing of female students and female teachers, saying, “I will implement Sharia. If you don't want to cover up, I will force you to cover up.”

In its complaint petition, the Secularism Assembly also included the speech made by student parent O.G., who witnessed the incident, during a live broadcast where they were a guest. O.G. had stated, “The principal said to me, ‘As someone who lived through February 28, I absolutely and strictly want them covered. If I could, I would also cover up the female teachers; no one will come uncovered. I will implement Sharia. If you don't want to cover up, I will force you to cover up.’”

‘HE VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION’

The Secularism Assembly stated that the aforementioned expressions constitute the crimes of “violating the Constitution, misconduct in office, and obstructing the right to education and training.” Furthermore, it was argued that Kırbıyık's statements also constituted a violation of the constitutional order in terms of being “antidemocratic and divisive.” For these reasons, the Secularism Assembly requested that “an indictment be prepared to open a public lawsuit directly without obtaining permission from the relevant authority for investigation and prosecution, in order for Kırbıyık to be tried and punished for the crimes corresponding to his actions.”

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST REACTIONARY PRINCIPAL

The Secularism Assembly filed a complaint with the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Ergin Kaya Kırbıyık, Principal of Bursa Mahmut Celalettin Ökten Imam Hatip Secondary School, due to his reactionary statements.

In the incident brought to the agenda by our newspaper, Kırbıyık had stated at a parent meeting held on August 7 that female students could not receive education without headscarves at the school, and that he would intervene in the clothing of female students and female teachers, saying, “I will implement Sharia. If you don't want to cover up, I will force you to cover up.”

In its complaint petition, the Secularism Assembly also included the speech made by student parent O.G., who witnessed the incident, during a live broadcast where they were a guest. O.G. had stated, “The principal said to me, ‘As someone who lived through February 28, I absolutely and strictly want them covered. If I could, I would also cover up the female teachers; no one will come uncovered. I will implement Sharia. If you don't want to cover up, I will force you to cover up.’”

‘HE VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION’

The Secularism Assembly stated that the aforementioned expressions constitute the crimes of “violating the Constitution, misconduct in office, and obstructing the right to education and training.” Furthermore, it was argued that Kırbıyık's statements also constituted a violation of the constitutional order in terms of being “antidemocratic and divisive.” For these reasons, the Secularism Assembly requested that “an indictment be prepared to open a public lawsuit directly without obtaining permission from the relevant authority for investigation and prosecution, in order for Kırbıyık to be tried and punished for the crimes corresponding to his actions.”

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST REACTIONARY PRINCIPAL

The Secularism Assembly filed a complaint with the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Ergin Kaya Kırbıyık, Principal of Bursa Mahmut Celalettin Ökten Imam Hatip Secondary School, due to his reactionary statements.

In the incident brought to the agenda by our newspaper, Kırbıyık had stated at a parent meeting held on August 7 that female students could not receive education without headscarves at the school, and that he would intervene in the clothing of female students and female teachers, saying, “I will implement Sharia. If you don't want to cover up, I will force you to cover up.”

In its complaint petition, the Secularism Assembly also included the speech made by student parent O.G., who witnessed the incident, during a live broadcast where they were a guest. O.G. had stated, “The principal said to me, ‘As someone who lived through February 28, I absolutely and strictly want them covered. If I could, I would also cover up the female teachers; no one will come uncovered. I will implement Sharia. If you don't want to cover up, I will force you to cover up.’”

‘HE VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION’

The Secularism Assembly stated that the aforementioned expressions constitute the crimes of “violating the Constitution, misconduct in office, and obstructing the right to education and training.” Furthermore, it was argued that Kırbıyık's statements also constituted a violation of the constitutional order in terms of being “antidemocratic and divisive.” For these reasons, the Secularism Assembly requested that “an indictment be prepared to open a public lawsuit directly without obtaining permission from the relevant authority for investigation and prosecution, in order for Kırbıyık to be tried and punished for the crimes corresponding to his actions.”

‘TDK IS NOT A PLACE TO INSULT REVOLUTIONS’

Prof. Dr. Hayati Develi, a member of the Turkish Language Association (TDK) Scientific Board, who attended the introductory meeting of the “Transleyt” application developed by Istanbul University, which can be used to translate 30 different languages including Ottoman Turkish, targeted the Alphabet Revolution. Develi argued that Ottoman Turkish texts could not be read due to the Alphabet Revolution. Regarding the subject, Develi stated, “We experienced a trauma of alphabet change. We became unable to read and understand old texts.”

‘WE STRONGLY CONDEMN’

The Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD) stated regarding Develi's expressions: “Looking at the efforts and sacrifices of our founding fathers, every Turk expects the TDK to carry out successful work regarding the Turkish language. However, today's TDK constantly causes disappointments. An insolent person named Hayati Develi was able to call the Alphabet Revolution a ‘trauma.’ The TDK is not an arena where counter-revolution scribblers can insult our Republic and our revolutions, hurt Atatürk's memory, and play with the nerves of our nation. We strongly condemn this so-called scientific board member who sees the Alphabet Revolution, which saved the Turkish nation from the pit of ignorance in which it was imprisoned in a short time, as a ‘trauma.’ The TDK President must either immediately terminate this person's membership in the scientific board or resign.”

News Source: 12punto