The only school of a village in Turkey’s Urfa turned into an İmam-Hatip
From education to finance, AKP officials and their supporter have in several instances worded out their desire to see Islamic rules applied in all fields of life in Turkey. Their push for an end to coed education in public schools; excessive spread of schools with Islamic curriculum; education ministry's open cooperation with the Diyanet (office of Religion Affairs); and, even a statement of an Islamic cleric deeming seniority payment as a 'sin' are all brief examples about what kind of a country AKP wants to see Turkey as. One of the most recent reports reflecting on this desire of the ruling party came from Turkey's southeastern province of Urfa.
RABİA YILMAZ
rabiayılmaz@birgun.net / @rabiaylmaz
The only middle school in Koyunluca village of Harran district in Turkey’s Urfa province has been turned into an İmam-Hatip school (vocational school with an Islamic curriculum). Following the decision of the district directorate of the education ministry in Harran, it was claimed that students were enrolled by officials and parents were forced to sign the paper work. Though some families in the village reacted against their only middle school to be turned into an İmam-Hatip, they had to follow along since there is no other school for their children nearby. The same practice is also taking place in other small and remote villages of Harran, according to reports.
Principal of the school, Bilal Tekyoldaş, claimed that the status of the school was changed with the request of Ministry of National Education, as well as, with the request of the public and the parents.
Tekyoldaş said: “I started on my duty here at the beginning of the year. When I came here, it was already turned into an İmam-Hatip. Our school was given the status of İmam-Hatip with the support of the education ministry and with the request and demand of the people and the parents. I guess, the parents wanted it. District directorate of the education ministry had requested a letter from me to write down that our middle schools was going to be an İmam-Hatip. I do not remember that phase very well because we were too busy...”
Tekyoldaş also mentions that the changes are being done slowly, as only 5th graders learn under the Islamic curriculum for now and 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are under the regular program. Within a matter of 2-3 years, however, the whole school will provide education under the Islamic curriculam, the principal added.
Responding to claims about parents having been forced to sign the documents, Tekyoldaş said: “I have not heard of such thing. No such complaint was received from the parents. The letter of request was prepared with the demand of the public.”
Front-page article of BirGün published on 14 June 2017, Wednesday with the title of 'The Turkey that they (AKP) dream of'
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/koydeki-tek-okulu-da-imam-hatibe-cevirdiler-164534.html