We reported last week that inspectors affiliated with the Ministry of National Education had begun an inspection of minority schools and verbally notified some Armenian schools that students from Armenia could hereafter receive their education in state or private schools but not in Armenian community schools. Following these developments, the principals of some Armenian schools first came together to exchange information. The issue was also raised at the Armenian Foundations Union meeting on August 24, and AKP Member of Parliament Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevan Sıvacıoğlu said that he would contact the relevant authorities regarding the development.
In a statement to Agos in the morning of August 26, Sıvacıoğlu said that he discussed the issue with Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin. According to Sıvacıoğlu's statement, during the meeting with Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, the ministry conveyed the message that “there is no new regulation regarding guest students studying at Armenian community schools in recent days, and that schools are to continue their educational activities in accordance with the existing regulation.”
Following this development, Armenian schools in Turkey are expected to continue accepting students from Armenia.
In our article titled “Is a restriction on students at minority schools coming?” which we brought to the agenda last week, we reported that inspectors from the Ministry of National Education had visited Armenian schools and conducted examinations concerning students from Armenia. As part of the inspections, we reported that the inspectors had told school principals that they could no longer accept Armenian nationals as guest students and that those students who were already registered should be transferred to state or private schools. The inspectors had also requested information from school principals regarding the fate of students from Armenia who had received their education in last 10 years. According to the information we obtained, the inspections were not directed solely at Armenian schools and people from Armenia; Greek and Jewish schools were also included in the scope of the inspections.
However, the Regulation on Private Educational Institutions of the Ministry of National Education, published in the Official Gazette dated March 20, 2012, included the provision: “Foreign-national guest students may also receive education at schools, taking into account the institution's enrollment capacity; however, diplomas may not be issued to these students. Those leaving the school shall be provided with a document issued by the school administration regarding the courses they attend and the grades they receive.”
Armenian schools have been accepting students from Armenia for approximately 14 years, taking this provision into account. However, diplomas could not be issued to these students.
During the previous academic year, approximately 50 students from Armenia were studying at Armenian schools. The fact that students from Armenia have been receiving education at Armenian schools for 14 years also provides an opportunity for dialogue to be established between Armenians from Turkey and students from Armenia.
The reason for the inspection of students from Armenia at Armenian schools in recent weeks, however, has not yet been clarified.
