BTTÖB reacts against the closure of 4 more Turkish primary schools

Western Thrace Turkish Teachers' Union (BTTÖB) reacted against the Greek state's continued closure of the schools of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace on the grounds of lack of students with a written statement.

With the closure of Hacıören, Keziren and Payamlar primary schools in Rhodope province and Karaköy primary schools in Xanthi province on the pretext of lack of students, the number of Western Thrace Turkish Minority Primary Schools decreased from 90 to 86 with the completion of the 2023-2024 academic year.

The Western Thrace Turkish Teachers' Union issued a statement reacting to the closure of 4 more Turkish primary schools. In the statement issued under the signature of President Aydın Ahmet and with the title "Again, the dream is dashed and again frustration!", BTTÖB drew attention to the following points. "Greece continues to apply the general education practices in the country to minority schools, ignoring the status of Western Thrace Turkish Minority education. According to the news in the press, four of our schools are being closed again. 

I am not saying that the education of our schools is being suspended consciously, because our schools, which were suspended until today, have never been reopened even though the number of children has increased. With the closure of Hacıören, Keziren and Payamlar primary schools in Rhodope province and Karaköy primary school in Xanthi province, the number of Western Thrace Turkish Minority Primary Schools decreases from 90 to 86.

The closure of our schools without taking into account the status of minority schools, using economic savings and lack of children as an excuse, is contrary to the Treaty of Lausanne. This attitude and behavior also negates the article "Five facts about Minority Education" written by Meri Kosmidu, Deputy Director of Primary and Secondary Education of the Eastern Macedonia - Thrace Province. 

Unfortunately, as claimed, neither the Treaty of Lausanne nor the educational protocols have been respected by Greece, nor has an impressive framework of privileged support for minority education been established, which the minority deserves. 

For years, all institutions and organizations of the minority have loudly shouted their reactions and concerns against the unjust school closures. However, the authorities of our country have never taken the minority as an interlocutor and have never consulted with the minority. I condemn this approach. 

The number of minority schools has decreased from 231 in 1995 to 86 as of today. In short, the number of schools we have lost in 29 years has increased to 145. Neither school closures nor mergers have made any positive contribution to education. This practice, which only aims to reduce the number of schools, must be reversed immediately. 

Minority schools are a cultural wealth of this country. These schools have raised individuals who are loyal to their country and respectful to the law. For this reason, it is essential for the state to establish a dialogue with the minority institutions in order to improve the quality of education in these schools and to fulfill the requirements of modern education in these schools. 

I invite all members of the minority and all those who hear this cry to think once again about the minority schools that are being lost one by one. When we completely lose the minority schools, which are our future, neither the problems of minority education, nor minority education, nor a minority will remain. 

I think it should be the duty of every minority individual to fight for our schools by preserving hope for the future of our minority."