Turkey’s education ministry: ‘Arabic is essential for monitoring scientific developments’
Turkey’s Religion Education Directorate of Ministry of Education sent a message to managements of İmam-Hatip (state schools with Islamic curriculum) middle and high schools requesting arrangement of activities emphasizing the importance of Arabic.
According to the report of Ozan Çepni from Cumhuriyet newspaper, in the statement, Arabic was defined as a key foreign language for students in Turkey to learn ‘in order to be able to follow up contemporary scientific developments.’ Though the Directorate normally does provide guidance to school managements with regards to activities to be organized in line with the curriculum, this year’s emphasis was on the ‘significance of Arabic for the Islamic world’ and the necessity of learning Arabic for the students of İmam-Hatip schools in order for them to ‘become individuals who are aware of their national and moral values and knowledgeable about the world.’
In accordance with the instructions of the Directorate, İmam-Hatip middle and high schools will be holding these activities all throughout the second semester this year and the activities will be focused on learning and using Arabic.
While activities will include reading and speaking competitions, drama, calligraphy, etc., students will not be allowed to choose the type of music they want to use in their activities.
Foreign language education in public schools in Turkey is still at a very insufficient stage and it has been a topic of concern for years. Inability of the State to provide an efficient solution for this issue throughout years has led private schools in the country, which are far more advanced in foreign language education, to be preferred by a significant number of parents despite its high-cost.