Striking claims from Greek education authorities: İskeçe Minority High School and Board of Trustees targeted
The statement issued on October 6 by the Eastern Macedonia–Thrace Regional Education Directorate has been regarded as a new example of covert intentions toward the educational institutions of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority and an approach that undermines the spirit of the Lausanne Treaty.
New crisis starting with school access restriction
The crisis began when the Board of Trustees of İskeçe Minority High School was prevented from entering the school after the summer break, bringing the Greek education authorities’ repressive attitude toward Turkish Minority institutions back into focus. Following the incident, the statement published on October 6 by the Eastern Macedonia–Thrace Regional Education Directorate drew strong reactions due to its statements targeting the institutional identity of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
Deep state reflexes?
In the Greek authorities’ statement, members of the Board of Trustees were accused of “distorting the laws” and “illegally occupying the school.” The statement claimed that the İskeçe Minority High School was established “through Greece’s goodwill.” These expressions were interpreted by minority circles as a “reflection of deep state reflexes,” as they deny the right to minority education guaranteed in the Lausanne Treaty.
Narrowing the scope of Lausanne
The published text argued that the Lausanne Treaty only covers minority education at the primary school level, implying that minority high schools and secondary schools exist as a “favor” granted by the Greek state. However, representatives of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority emphasize that Articles 40 and 41 of Lausanne explicitly recognize minorities’ right to establish and manage their own educational institutions.
Attempt to discredit the Board of Trustees
The statement accused the Board of Trustees of failing to maintain the school, not paying rent, and politically “instrumentalizing” the building, aiming to discredit them. Highlighting the renovations and financial support provided by the state was interpreted as propaganda to portray minority institutions as a “gift from the state.”
2018 Law invoked to limit powers: School ownership transferred to the state
The statement noted that under the 2018 legal regulation, the status of minority high schools has changed, and no individual or institution holds the title of “founder” or “owner,” calling into question the powers of the Board of Trustees. The statement argued that this law effectively sidelined minority institutions and transferred full administrative and property rights of the school to the state.
Control policy under the name of “new beginning”
The “law-abiding new beginning” call at the end of the text was interpreted by minority circles as a softened language of assimilation. The Western Thrace Turkish Minority public emphasizes that such statements aim to weaken minority identity and eliminate institutional autonomy under the guise of “assistance and improvement.”
Among the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, there is a consensus that the statement represents “the latest link in the policy to eliminate educational autonomy and render minority institutions ineffective.”
Full text: Turkish translation of the Regional Education Directorate statement
(By Acting Regional Education Director Marigoula Kosmidou, October 6, 2025)
“The press release of the İskeçe Minority High School Board of Trustees shows that its members either do not know the laws or deliberately misinterpret them. Their aim is to continue entering the school illegally without any legal justification. Staying in the school has become an obsession and an end in itself for them. Completely detached from educational activities and students’ academic processes, the Board of Trustees makes no reference to educational activities conducted within the school in its press release.
First of all, they should not forget that the establishment of the İskeçe Minority High School occurred as a result of Greece’s conscious and unconditional choice; it is not the product of any obligation. The Lausanne Treaty only covers primary education and does not foresee the existence of a Minority High School. The school exists entirely due to the open will of our country, and the Greek state financially supports the school. This support does not rely on the principle of reciprocity.
Moreover, in a previous statement dated February 3, 2025, the Board of Trustees stated that mentioning the “principle of reciprocity” in comparisons with minority schools in Istanbul is not within their authority. Therefore, for an honest and impartial observer, comparisons are quite easy.
The state has fully provided the main building where the school operates free of charge. The Board of Trustees has not paid any rent for this building to date. As everyone knows, the Board of Trustees has made no effort to maintain or repair this historic building and has ignored growing problems. At the same time, they instrumentalize this situation, completely neglecting students, which clearly reveals the Board of Trustees’ true priorities.
When the building was allocated to the Ministry of Education, Religion, and Sports via the Regional Education Directorate by decision of the Eastern Macedonia–Thrace Region, the state immediately carried out extensive maintenance and renovation using its own resources (during the summer vacation). Thus, at the start of the new school year, students of the İskeçe Minority High School began their education in a fully renovated building.
Similarly, the Greek state exhibited the same approach during the expansion work of the adjacent foundation building. However, the Board of Trustees, despite clear instructions, has failed to fulfill its obligation to pay rent for this foundation building to D.E.M.P. (İskeçe Foundations Administration).
Thanks to these works and investments carried out by the Greek state, the number of classrooms has increased, and the use of basement and semi-basement classrooms has ended. This has been accomplished despite the contrary initiatives of the Board of Trustees.
In addition, the state provides financial support of up to approximately €20,000 annually, four times a year regularly, and additionally when necessary, for the operation and expenses of the school. However, the Board of Trustees consistently hides or ignores this support.
Furthermore, the Board of Trustees continuously ignores Article 17 of Law No. 4563/2018. This article changed the legal status of the Minority High School and ended the previous legal regime. Now, the school has no “founder” or “owner,” and therefore no one has the right to be in the building. Anyone can easily see in the parliamentary records or online who worked for the passage of this article and who thanked the Greek government, all of whom are members of the Muslim Minority.
The powers of the Board of Trustees are defined by law. Specifically, according to the Ministry of Education Decision dated June 10, 2002, No. 62092/ΦΕΚ B’ 776, the duties and responsibilities of Minority School Boards of Trustees are limited to financial management and operation of the school.
Moreover, according to the Ministry of Education circular dated November 17, 2022, No. 143074/ΓΔ4, “no one other than teachers and students may remain in the school building during school hours.”
The İskeçe Minority High School Board of Trustees tries to portray the state-provided building and expenditures as their own property, taking on a “proprietor” role using public resources allocated for the school.
The reality of the renovated school building and the smiles on the faces of students and teachers during the visit of Minister of Education Sofía Zaharáki has caused “astonishment” for many, as some did not want to believe the state had fulfilled its commitments.
On this occasion, we call on everyone to respect the laws, act with awareness of our responsibilities toward students and teachers, and support a law-abiding, new beginning.”
