Skip to main content

Hands off my child, Turks tell government

The latest changes in Turkey’s education system have resulted in chaos and comedy, with many students placed in remote schools and non-Muslim pupils assigned to schools training imams.
Turkish children sing the national anthem before their lesson at a school in Hatay April 2, 2012.   REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY  - Tags: SOCIETY)   - RTR309SU

The new school year in Turkey is scheduled to start on Sept. 15, and is already mired in chaos and controversy.

Since it came to power 12 years ago, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has had five education ministers, with each rearranging the schooling system in their own way and coming up with the most controversial projects in the ministry’s 94-year history. Some have been accused of entertaining ideological motives and seeking to create backyards for the AKP, while others were slammed as tokens.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.