Report reveals closure of prep schools against Constitution

A general view of a classroom in a prep school in Ankara. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Mevlüt Karabulut)
A general view of a classroom in a prep school in Ankara. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Mevlüt Karabulut)


Date posted: February 24, 2015

ARSLAN AYAN / ISTANBUL

A recently released report by a think tank based in İstanbul has revealed that the controversial law shutting down Turkey’s private prep schools or “dershanes” includes clauses that violate the Turkish Constitution.

The 25-page report, titled “Evaluation of the legal base of shutting down of dershanes,” contains the legal aspects of the prep school closure. The report was released in January 2015 by the İstanbul Institute’s Center for Social Policy Studies.

The report reveals that law goes against Article 2 of the Constitution, which lists the characteristics of the republic; Article 5, which describes the fundamental goals and tasks of the state; Article 10, which discusses equality; Article 13, which delves into restriction of fundamental rights and freedoms; Article 17, which says that “everyone has the right to the protection and development of tangible and intangible assets”; Article 44, which says that “no one can be deprived of education and training” and Article 49, which lists the principles of nationalization and privatization.

In a surprise move, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) decided in November 2013 to shut down Turkey’s prep schools and for that purpose, a bill was passed into law in March of last year, stirring a massive debate. According to the law, prep schools will no longer be able to operate as such after Sept. 1, 2015 and must convert to standard high schools if they wish to remain in operation.

It is stated in the report that the dershanes are private enterprises that have characteristics of public service providers, thus they cannot be considered private institutions because they are defined and established through the law.

From this point of view, prep schools cannot be closed down legally under Article 47 of the Constitution. However, the same article paves the way for nationalization, but the article also says that nationalization can take place only when the public interest necessitates it.

In Turkey, extreme importance is placed on the college entrance exam, thus creating the demand for supplemental preparatory institutions. Critics of the law have said that the prep schools level the playing field for students aiming to attend university because the prep courses are relatively affordable. These schools, with their affordable fees, are regarded by mostly middle and lower-income families as an equalizing force when it comes to seeking a better education for their children.

The report also emphasizes that nationalization must be done by taking into consideration “real value,” meaning that the current worth of a prep school should be paid to the owner when it is nationalized. According to the law passed by the government, prep schools have two years to become regular schools and will be prohibited from operating as study centers. If they do not make the switch during this period, fines ranging from TL 500,000 to TL 1 million will be imposed on them.

The announcement to shut down the schools sparked a rift between the government and the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, because a significant percentage of the schools are owned by those associated with the movement and the ensuing revenue constitutes a major portion of the movement’s financial dealings.

Source: Today's Zaman , February 21, 2015


Related News

Cleric’s Lawyers Want US Suit Backed by Turkey Tossed

Attorneys for a reclusive Muslim cleric living in exile in Pennsylvania asked a federal judge late Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit that claims he orchestrated human rights abuses in his native Turkey, denouncing it as “pure political theater” by the Turkish government.

Cagaptay: Turkey moves far beyond Europe

Recently, visiting Istanbul, I attended a conference on the Arab Spring organized by Abant Platform, a local NGO that gathers Turkish intellectuals of different stripes for policy debates. The conference – this time with attendees from Washington, Tel Aviv, London, St. Petersburg and Arab capitals in addition to Turks – debated Turkey’s leadership role in […]

EU Criticizes Kosovo, Turkey Over Deportation Of Six Erdogan Political Foes

The European Union on April 3 criticized Kosovo’s deportation of six Turks who were political foes of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying it “raised questions” about both Pristina’s and Ankara’s “respect” for human rights.

Turkish Twitter war over education

Plans to abolish “prep schools” in Turkey have sparked a huge feud between two of the country’s most powerful forces on the micro-blogging website Twitter. Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AK party have proposed eliminating the schools, which provide private tuition classes to help high school children prepare for university entrance exams. […]

Celebrating Ramadan with Turkish asylum seekers

Haldun and his wife, Funda, fled Turkey about two years ago with their three daughters and are now seeking political asylum in the United States because if they go back to Turkey they face arrest and likely torture. Once a successful manufacturer of washing machine products, Haldun, Funda and their children are now a family without a country; their factory turned over to a government trustee, their passports taken away, and their property and belongings nationalized.

Turkey’s Global Anti-Gülen Crusade Puts Tbilisi in Diplomatic Bind

Mustafa Emre Çabuk is out of prison but not out of trouble. The Turkish national, who for the past 15 years ran a Gülen school in the Georgian capital, Tblisi, is the latest international educator caught up in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s anti-Gülenist campaign.

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

Turkish Olympiad finals held all around the globe in prestigious venues in a variety of cities

Guest post: Turkey and the problem of political continuity

Turkish prosecutor says Gülen movement founded by CIA!

New Jersey Celebrates Turkic Day

Nigeria Turkish College to Host Language, Culture Festival

Houston firms ‘explore’ Turkey on direct flights

President Fox speaks about Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News