Turkish parents complain of push towards religious schools

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Critics say parental choice is being denied after government moves to convert secular institutions into Imam Hatip schools



Turkish girls walk home from school in the Muslim quarter in Cizre. Photograph: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP/Getty Images

Constanze Letsch in Istanbul
Thursday 12 February 2015 02.00 EST

When Itir Erhart, 39, wanted to enrol her daughter in primary school, she found that it was almost impossible to find somewhere that did not teach Sunni Islamic religion and Sunni religious practices.

“We are a non-religious family,” Erhart said. “I don’t want my child to learn about God in school.”

In the end, she had to turn to the private sector for fear that her daughter would be marked out as the only non-religious child in the class. “Religion has become so dominant in Turkish state culture that I was afraid my daughter would be completely marginalised.”

Despite international courts ruling that Turkey should respect the preferences of pupils, critics say the government of the ruling Turkish Justice and Development party (AKP) is seeking to reshape the system along Sunni Islamic lines. Recent government moves to convert a large number of secular schools into Imam Hatip religious schools has added to the controversy.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/12/turkish-parents-steered-religious-schools-secular-imam-hatip

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0mam_Hatip_school

http://erg.sabanciuniv.edu/en/educationreforminitiative

[cbayer]

1. I am so sorry to see this happen.

I have visited Istanbul only once, but the variety of religions and what appeared to be the easy tolerance towards others was wonderful.

I hate to see them change. At any rate, they are making it more and more certain that they won't become a part of the EU.