Turkish Schools Discussed at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University


Date posted: October 26, 2004

In a conference at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) at the Johns Hopkins University, Turkish schools in Central Asia were closely analyzed.

In a conference titled ‘Turkish way of Islam Educates Central Asians’, which Dr. Bayram Balci from the French Institute of Anatolian Studies in Istanbul attended as lecturer, the educational movement initiated by Fethullah Gulen and its activities in the region were discussed.

Speaking in the conference, which was opened by the director of the Institute, Professor Charles Fairbanks who is also recognized as one of the authorities on Central Asia, Dr. Balci expressed that he finds the schools ‘very successful’. Balci, who researched the region and Turkish schools there between 1996 and 1999 for the French Grenoble University, submitted his studies as a dissertation which has been published as a book in France. According to Balci, schools in countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are magnets for people as well as the elites of the region due to their high rates of success in student matriculation in the university entrance exams, as well as the prizes they win in the Science Olympics. The underlying factors for this achievement are listed as: modern education and equipment; highly motivated teachers; a dormitory system; weakness of local education; the absence of corruption.

Indicating that the schools were admired by both Turkish diplomatic representatives in the related countries and the local administrations, Balci announced that in these schools education in positive sciences is in English, Turkish, Russian, and local languages and the curriculum is secular. Which prompts the question of where Islam stands in these schools. Balci said: “The first principle of the schools is not to convert people to Islam, but to turn them into qualified people.” He went on to say that students are educated as decent and patriotic individuals and added that the religious activities should be evaluated within the framework of the moderate ‘Turkish way of Islam’.

Source: Today’s Zaman, 25 October, 2004

Tags: USA, Turkish schools

 


Related News

Lawyer of raided schools: Terror groups do not open schools, they raid them

The lawyer representing a number of schools that were raided in a government-initiated operation in Bilecik province on Saturday and Sunday based on their supposed affiliation with an alleged terrorist organization has said terrorist organizations do not open schools but instead raid them.

Democracy is vanishing in Turkey, specialist says

Zeynalov reminded the attendees that Erdogan also was arrested a couple of decades ago. That eventually helped him to become famous and won him the elections five years later. But it didn’t stop Erdogan to use the same law for justifying the arrest of Zeynalov in 2014.

Human Rights Foundation asks Kosovo PM to free 6 Gulen followers

US-based Human Rights Foundation has asked, in an urgent letter, to free 6 Gulen followers, arrested facing deportation to Turkey at the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s order.

Young Peace Builders Honored

East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet! The Turkish Cultural Centers in America believe in bridging the chasm between the east and west, seeking peace through community building. The 6th Friendship Dinner hosted by the Turkish Cultural Center of Brooklyn, was themed ‘Hate Crimes and Young Peacebuilders’. “Unfortunately hate […]

Turks in US Ditto: Dialogue

The interfaith dialogue symposium organized by the Niagara Foundation, a Turkish community foundation in the United States, began on Thursday. The Chicago Interfaith Gathering sponsored by several American academic institutions and non-governmental organizations met at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Dialogue and Friendship Dinner Unites Multi-Cultural, Faith Groups

Against the backdrop of the San Antonio skyline, members of various religious and cultural groups from every corner of the city broke bread and shared a thoughtful discussion during the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest‘s 11th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Parents jailed over Gülen links not allowed see their children for 9 months

Turkey’s ‘Nazi-style’ purge of academia condemned

Foes on the Run as Erdogan Makes Power Personal

Gulen-linked body condemns attempted Turkey coup

A way to hide the truth: the Hizmet Movement

Despite obstacles, Kimse Yok Mu delivers aid to thousands worldwide

Myanmar-based family abducted by Turkish embassy from Yangon airport

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News