The Enlightenment Movement released a declaration against the anti-scientific curriculum of the Turkey's ruling AKP party and hundreds of people opposing this curriculum supported the declaration with their signatures. In the latest issue of the journal of Enlightenment Movement published on October 6, the opinions of these signatories were shared with the public opinion.
"A BARRIER AGAINST REACTIONARY DESTRUCTION"
Ahmet Mantaş, the chairperson of the Union of Labourers of Education and Science (Eğitim-İş) Çanakkale branch, noted that the declaration against the curriculum of AKP will set a barrier against reactionary destruction. Mantaş said AKP needs a "revengeful and religious generation" to maintain its existence and impose its model of the regime, and can attain this only through education. Mantaş also noted that it is unacceptable that Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, has been removed from the curriculum.
"SECULAR EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR WOMEN"
Canan Güllü, the chairperson of Federation of Women Associations in Turkey, noted that the new curriculum of the AKP government imposes the submission and obedience of women in social life and aims to eradicate the historical gains in Turkey about the equality of men and women. Güllü said that being part of the Enlightenment Movement is important to propagate the value of secularism both in Turkey and in the whole region.
Kadem Özbay, head of the supervisory board of the Union of Labourers of Education and Science, also underlined "the struggle for secular and scientific education is a historical obligation for the future of Turkey."
Kazım Genç, the former general secretary of the Alevi-Bektashi Federation, said that the children need to learn positive modern science starting from the earliest stages so that they can get to know about the life, and yet this new curriculum excludes the theory of evolution and Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic. He noted that he signed the declaration since he believed in a struggle for the future of children.
"WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DEFEND SCIENTIFIC AND SECULAR EDUCATION"
Galip Reha Ertekin, the chairperson of the Union of Labourers of Education and Science (Eğitim-İş) Adana branch, stated that the most important principle of the Republic, which is laicism, is being abandoned, thus creating a feasible ground for the upbringing of the AKP government's "revengeful and religious generation". He noted that a generation taught jihadism in schools will be the future Islamic State (IS) militants, and that they will do whatever it takes to defend scientific and secular education.
Ahmet Abakay, journalist and writer, noted that he is in favour of a peaceful generation against the jihadist one; that he defends equal and scientific education for all; and that he is in favour of a socialist Turkey against fascism and dictatorship.
Rıfat Okçabol, writer and academician in educational sciences, underlined that the new curriculum does not allow the students to develop their free ideas, to acquire scientific and universal values, to understand humanity, nature and society and to grasp the realities of life. Therefore, Okçabol noted, the whole curriculum should be torn apart.
Barış Terkoğlu, journalist and member of Enlightenment Movement, said: "we cannot maintain schools as places of education, and raise a new enlightened generation without stopping this curriculum."
"FREEDOM DEPENDS ON LAICISM, AND LAICISM ON SOCIALISM"
İlker Belek, an academic, said that Islamization is necessary for the bourgeoisie of Turkey to prevent the working class struggle. Belek noted that the reactionary attack pursued by the curriculum has a class basis and can only be defeat by means of socialist struggle. He also said, "there was no other historical time when it became so clear that freedom depends on laicism, and laicism on socialism."
Serpil Çelenk, a writer, also noted "There is a public opposition that does not agree with the reactionary transformation, and that demands secular and scientific education. A decisive and long-termed struggle will force the AKP government to retreat."
