Minority school education issues on Türkiye's Parliamentary Agenda

Western Thrace
Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:00 GMT
İYİ Party MP Rıdvan Uz has brought the issues surrounding Turkish language education in Gökçeada’s Greek Minority Schools and the restrictions imposed on Turkish Minority Schools in Western Thrace to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Minority school education issues on Türkiye's Parliamentary Agenda

İYİ Party MP Rıdvan Uz has brought the issues surrounding Turkish language education in Gökçeada’s Greek Minority Schools and the restrictions imposed on Turkish Minority Schools in Western Thrace to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

In his written parliamentary inquiry addressed to the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, Uz highlighted concerns about the quality of Turkish education in Gökçeada’s minority schools. He referenced Articles 40 and 41 of the Treaty of Lausanne, emphasizing the importance of fair and transparent oversight mechanisms to uphold minority rights.

"Are Non-Turkish Speaking Greek Teachers Teaching Turkish?"
The inquiry raised several critical questions, including:

How many students are currently enrolled in Gökçeada’s minority schools? Are reports claiming only three students reside on the island accurate?
Who teaches Turkish in these schools, and how are their qualifications and appointment processes monitored?
If allegations that non-Turkish speaking Greek teachers are teaching Turkish are true, what measures does the Ministry plan to implement?
Restrictions on Turkish Minority Schools in Western Thrace
Uz also drew attention to Greece’s closure of 158 Turkish Minority Schools in Western Thrace. He called for stronger action on the international stage, emphasizing the principle of reciprocity in addressing this issue. Uz underlined the need for Türkiye to enhance the quality of minority education domestically while advocating for Turkish minority rights in Greece under international law.

Transparent Monitoring Essential
The inquiry stressed the importance of comprehensive inspections to prevent ideological, political, or discriminatory practices in Gökçeada’s schools. Uz urged the Ministry to clarify the standards applied in such evaluations to ensure compliance with the Treaty of Lausanne and international norms.

Uz concluded that while Türkiye continues to uphold minority rights with goodwill, Greece’s restrictive policies create an imbalance that must be rectified through diplomatic and legal efforts.

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