Turkish Education Ministry to hear minorities’ appeal

The Armenian community is preparing to present a report to the Turkish education minister, requesting certain modifications to the regulations at minority schools. 

In a report to Education Minister Ömer Dinçer, the Armenian community will demand the abolition of the practice of appointing Turkish deputy principals to minority schools. 

Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation head Bedros Şirinoğlu is set to meet Dinçer in the upcoming days. According to the report, the community will demand the abolition of Turkish deputy principals being appointed to minority schools, which started being implemented during the 1970s. The report will also demand that the terms of offices of Turkish language and Turkish history teachers be determined by the schools themselves. 

Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, Şirinoğlu said he had some concerns about the subject of the deputy principals, but that he was planning to prioritize the issue of teacher appointments at the presentation of the report. 

“Of course, the state should give citizens their rights, but this should be carried out with a proper attitude. I am planning to give priority to the issue of the teachers’ terms of office, and I believe we will get positive results [from the meeting],” he said.