Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Association issues statement on International Mother Language Day

The Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Association (BTTÖB) issued a statement on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, emphasizing the importance of learning and actively using one's mother tongue in daily life. The statement also reiterated the demand for bilingual Turkish-Greek kindergartens.

The statement highlighted the significance of February 21, designated as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999, to promote international understanding, cultural diversity, and multilingualism.

"Language Is the Carrier of Culture"

BTTÖB underlined that a mother tongue is crucial for communication between a child and their parents, expressing emotions and thoughts, and establishing social connections. It also serves as a carrier of culture, passing down folk tales, lullabies, songs, and traditions from one generation to the next.

“A person learns their mother tongue naturally from their family and environment before developing it through formal education. This language enables individuals to understand, preserve, and enrich their culture. A culture can only exist through its language, which provides meaning and continuity. Language connects a person to their roots, shapes their identity, and helps them understand the world,” the statement read.

The association also referred to a famous quote attributed to Confucius: "If you want to destroy a nation, start with its language."

BTTÖB warned that being separated from one’s mother tongue leads to disconnection not only from family and community but also from the broader world. "A nation that loses its language cannot survive as a nation. A person who is detached from their mother tongue is also detached from many of their cultural and national values," the statement continued.

A Renewed Call for Bilingual Education

The association strongly advocated for the establishment of bilingual Turkish-Greek kindergartens within the minority education system.

"Forcing children who will receive bilingual education in primary school to attend monolingual kindergartens is outdated and oppressive. It is, in fact, a form of cultural genocide," the statement declared.

BTTÖB also expressed strong opposition to the closure of minority primary schools under the pretext of low student numbers, stressing that these schools play a vital role in preserving the Turkish language and culture. The statement further called for the creation of libraries in minority schools, ensuring easy access to Turkish-language books suitable for children’s ages.

Special Education and Teacher Training

The association emphasized the necessity of bilingual education for children with disabilities, criticizing the current system where such children are placed under the instruction of teachers who do not speak their mother tongue.

"It is unacceptable to place children—who struggle to understand even their mother tongue—in an education system where they are forced to learn in an unfamiliar language," the statement said.

Additionally, BTTÖB called for in-service training programs for Turkish language teachers in Türkiye and urged authorities to allow graduates from Turkish universities’ faculties of education to be employed in minority schools.

Concluding the statement, BTTÖB reaffirmed its commitment to the preservation and development of the Turkish language in Western Thrace and once again called on authorities to address the community’s demands.

"We celebrate International Mother Language Day once again and urge all stakeholders to respect and support linguistic diversity," the statement concluded.