Fears of a “Gezi” against the backward education programme

Ozan Çepni
 
The Ministry of National Education’s controversial education programme has posed a new fear for the state. It has been learnt that last week, in a presentation made by gendarmerie intelligence officials at a meeting held with the governors of 81 provinces, provincial governors were warned that left-wing groups were planning actions similar to the Gezi protests on the back of controversy over the education programme and the religification of education. The instruction was also given at the meeting for political activity to be prevented in advance at universities and for drugs to be combatted effectively at schools.
 
Even if debate over the exam system has diverted public attention away from the Ministry of National Education’s new education programme, featuring the devotion of less space to Atatürk, the removal of the theory of evolution and the addition of jihad, it continues to number among the state’s priorities. At Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu’s behest, matters relating to education were on the agenda of the “2017 Governors Meeting” held on 11-12 October with the governors of 81 provinces in attendance. From what has been gleaned, provincial governors were warned of “threats” in educational branches from primary education to universities. Provincial governors were told that left-wing groups had plans to stage an action similar to the Gezi protests over the education programme and religification in state policy. In view of this, measures to counter reactions to the Ministry of National Education’s education programme and the religification of education were discussed with the provincial governors.
 
Prevention of political activity
 
Another item in the presentation made at the meeting concerned universities, where reactions continue in the wake of the expulsion of academics through decrees with the force of law. The Interior Ministry, wishing for absolutely no incident to occur at universities, instructed governors to prevent political activity at universities in advance.
 
A further item on the governors’ agenda was combatting drugs at schools. The Interior Ministry, which in recent times has taken serious steps against drugs in and around educational areas, gave a reminder of the intensive camera system instruction for schools in relation to this. Plans have been made for a coordinator to be appointed to each school and for connections to be established between school administrations and parents, pupils and security forces. The Ministry also asked governors to see to it that political actions were not permitted at schools.
 
The state’s harsh face
 
It has been further learnt that at the meeting, with it recalled how state civil servants used to inspire trepidation, governors were also exhorted to make “state’s harsh face” felt.
 
Governors were also given a presentation of the Security and Emergencies Coordination Centres project. It was explained how the project would see the giant monitoring and assessment centre to be established within the Ministry of the Interior having direct communications with the Presidential Coordination Centre.