The YENİ Party Atakum District Presidency has reacted to the decision to hold joint exams in schools on November 10, the 88th anniversary of the death of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In a statement made in the Atakum district of Samsun, it was argued that the exam calendar overshadows the events commemorating Atatürk.
Speaking at the opening of the statement, YENİ Party Atakum District Chair Adem Kürek drew attention to the historical and social importance of November 10 for Turkey. Kürek stated that while November 10 had previously been made to coincide with the mid-term break, this year, commemoration activities in schools are being squeezed between the exam agenda due to the joint exams.
We do not accept these. This country has one savior, one founder. Understanding Atatürk and following in Atatürk's footsteps is actually the way to save the country from the disastrous situation it has fallen into today.
In the statement read by District Education Secretary Senay Duman, the practices of Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin were criticized. Duman stated that the education system should be structured in accordance with the requirements of the age, emphasizing secular, scientific, and public education committed to Atatürk's principles and revolutions.
Duman said that Turkish language exams are planned for the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades of middle schools, and geography exams for the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades of high schools on November 10. In the statement made on behalf of the YENİ Party Atakum District Administration, it was expressed that the practice in question is not accepted.
The statement emphasized that education is a fundamental public right that all citizens should benefit from equally. While it was stated that co-educational, secular, and scientific education should be the fundamental principle, it was argued that the curriculum should be organized in a way that develops contemporary, pluralistic, and critical thinking.
Duman noted that education policies should be determined together with teachers, parents, students, unions, academics, and experts. Claiming that the problems in the Ministry of National Education cannot be solved, Duman characterized the scheduling of joint exams on November 10 as an effort to “make people forget Atatürk” and said they condemn Minister Tekin.
News Source: 12punto
