ISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday dismissed criticism of Turkey’s new education curriculum and vowed to prioritise “national values” in the face of worries that the changes will erode schools’ scientific and secularist foundations.Late last month Ankara approved the curriculum, dubbed the “Turkey Century Education Model”, which will roll out gradually from the next academic year.The main opposition party, education unions and non-governmental organisations have all voiced concerns over its democratic credentials and criticized steps to emphasize religious studies at the expense of others.”Our aim is to raise young people equipped with national values,” said Erdogan, whose Islamic-rooted AK Party has ruled Turkey for more than two decades.”Those who oppose our education move over ideological concerns should question themselves,” he said at an event unveiling the curriculum.Under Erdogan’s watch, Turkey has opened many Islamic “Imam Hatip” schools in line with his goal of creating a “pious generation”. Steps last year promoting traditional moral values in students, increasing Islamic lessons and opening prayer rooms in schools fuelled secularist concerns in the Muslim country.”We will not allow anyone to come between the children of this country and religious values. The period in which children faced discrimination …
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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday dismissed criticism of Turkey’s new education curriculum and vowed to prioritise “national values” in the face of worries that the changes will erode schools’ scientific and secularist foundations.Late last month Ankara approved the curriculum, dubbed the “Turkey Century Education Model”, which will roll out gradually from the next academic year.The main opposition party, education unions and non-governmental organisations have all voiced concerns over its democratic credentials and criticized steps to emphasize religious studies at the expense of others.”Our aim is to raise young people equipped with national values,” said Erdogan, whose Islamic-rooted AK Party has ruled Turkey for more than two decades.”Those who oppose our education move over ideological concerns should question themselves,” he said at an event unveiling the curriculum.Under Erdogan’s watch, Turkey has opened many Islamic “Imam Hatip” schools in line with his goal of creating a “pious generation”. Steps last year promoting traditional moral values in students, increasing Islamic lessons and opening prayer rooms in schools fuelled secularist concerns in the Muslim country.”We will not allow anyone to come between the children of this country and religious values. The period in which children faced discrimination …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
