Western Thrace Turks continue to react to the letter on minority education
The reactions of Western Thrace Turks to the article written by Meri Kosmidu, Deputy Director of Education of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Province, on minority education continue.
In the statement released by the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board (BTTADK) on social media, it is stated that "Until today, the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace has not been involved in the decisions taken by the state regarding minority education. Its opinion has not been asked even as a courtesy. Minority education is in this state because of the decree-laws, laws and circulars issued unilaterally by the state".
Greece does not comply with the Treaty of Lausanne and education protocols
In the statement, it is stated that the minority wishes to be grateful for the so-called favourable attitude of the Greek state towards the minority schools and it is underlined that Greece does not comply with the Treaty of Lausanne and the educational protocols.
In the statement, it was pointed out that Greece does not allow the increase in the number of minority secondary schools and high schools, which are insufficient in number, and that the construction of a new building for the Xanthi Minority High School was also prevented.
Number of Turkish primary schools decreased from 307 to 90
It was reminded in the statement that the opening of kindergartens in Western Thrace, which would provide education in Turkish and Greek, was not allowed and it was noted that the number of Turkish primary schools, which was 307 in 1926, has decreased to 90 today.
In the statement emphasising that Turkish teachers from Western Thrace who graduated from education faculties in Turkey are not allowed to work in Turkish primary schools, the following statements were used:
"In fact, if Greece had respected and complied with the Treaty of Lausanne and the educational protocols in good faith, the rights of our councillors would not have been taken away. In order to undermine our educational autonomy, the state took away the powers of the councillors with Law 694/1977 and our right to choose teachers with Law 695/1977 and forced the minority schools to employ teachers graduated from the Special Pedagogical Academy of Thessaloniki (SÖPA)."
Special Pedagogical Academy of Thessaloniki (SÖPA)
SÖPA was established by the junta administration in 1968 in order to create teaching staff to replace Western Thracian Turks who graduated from education faculties in Turkey.
SÖPA was closed in 2014 following the long years of reaction of Western Thrace Turks.
The teachers who teach Turkish in the Turkish minority primary schools in Western Thrace are SÖPA graduates.
Kosmidu's claim
In her article, Kosmidu argued that minorities had many privileges in education and that Greece was acting in accordance with the Lausanne Treaty and education protocols.
TRT
