AK Party’s Deputy Günay joins intra-party opposition to prep school ban

AK Party İzmir deputy Ertuğrul Günay (Photo: Today's Zaman)
AK Party İzmir deputy Ertuğrul Günay (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: November 22, 2013

Another deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has criticized a recent government plan to shut down prep schools, saying that these institutions are not the cause of problems in the education system but a consequence of the current system.

AK Party İzmir deputy and former Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay has said discussing the country’s problems while disregarding root causes creates more problems rather than bringing about a solution.

“We offended the youth who stay in student houses as well as their families with discourse that cast doubt on students staying in these houses instead of seeing addressing deficiencies in dormitories. The same thing happened with the prep school issue. Of course, nobody can defend the existence of prep schools forever. However, prep schools are the result of today’s education system,” Günay tweeted on Friday.

Stating that bringing the closure of prep schools to the agenda before discussing flaws in the education system is perceived as addressing the result of a problem instead of its cause, Günay said this approach leads to misunderstandings. “And when such issues are brought to the agenda without being shared [with other parties] and sanctions are imposed without letting counter arguments be made, democracy does not improve,” he added.

Günay’s remarks come one day after the AK Party referred Kütahya deputy İdris Bal to the party’s disciplinary board for expulsion after he opposed the government’s planned closure of prep schools.

A statement released by the AK Party on Thursday said that Bal was referred to the disciplinary board on the grounds of “giving speeches that conflict with party politics.”

Kütahya deputy Bal last week tweeted his opinion that prep schools serve an important purpose in leveling educational disparities. In another tweet he added: “A private company cannot be opened or shut down under orders. As the market will not work as per orders, this structure will continue underground.”

Some other AK Party deputies have also raised their voices against the government plan to shut down prep schools. Two deputies have rallied against the draft law, claiming that it would violate the right to free enterprise and the right to an education.

AK Party Karaman deputy Mevlüt Akgün said he stands behind his earlier promise that he will vote “no” on the bill to close prep schools, stressing that forcibly shutting down these education centers would be in violation of the constitution.

AK Party Manisa lawmaker Muzaffer Yurttaş also voiced similar concerns, saying that prep schools greatly improve students’ education.

Source: Today's Zaman , November 22, 2013


Related News

Closing down prep schools another poor education policy decision

We are not convinced that shutting down prep schools will either improve quality of education in Turkey or increase educational equality,” said Batuhan Aydagül, director of the Education Reform Initiative (ERI or Eğitim Reformu Girişimi, ERG).

Jailed journalist facing new trial for not calling Gülen movement a terror organization

Journalist Emre Soncan, who has been behind bars for 20 months, is facing a new trial for not describing the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization. Soncan, 36, used to work for Turkey’s best-selling Zaman daily, which was closed down by the Turkish government in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016 due to its links to the Gülen movement.

Detained Woman Covers 50 Km Twice A Day To Feed One-Year Old Baby In Turkey

Şule Akkaya, a primary school teacher who was detained on June 1, 2017 as part of an investigation into the Gülen group, reportedly covers 40 to 50 km twice a day to breastfeed her one-year-old baby in Zonguldak.

Students from around the globe spread the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’

More than 400 students from 17 nations assembled in New Delhi on May 7 for the 14th International Festival of Language & Culture (IFLC 2016) which had the premise ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family)’ to spread the message of global peace and cultural harmony.

Trustees seize control of schools in government-led move

A judge in İstanbul has ordered that trustees be appointed to 12 companies, including the FEM and Anafen prep schools established by people sympathetic to the faith-based Gülen movement for allegedly being affiliated with Kaynak Holding.

Uganda president praises Turkish schools’ success, calls for deeper cooperation

Attending opening ceremony of the sixth Turkish school founded by a group of volunteers to cement ties between two countries, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni expressed his joy over the attempt of Turkey’s elite entrepreneurs who played key roles in establishment of a wide network of schools across the African continent in order to boost inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.

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

Fethullah Gulen’s response to ‘coup’ accusations

Lailat al-Miraj marked with prayers for Soma victims across Turkey

GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election

In Netherlans court orders parents to stop calling De Roos primary a terrorist school

Minister says ‘parallel state’ claims not realistic, cites lack of evidence

One of his sons is with the PKK, the other is with the Gulen movement

Islamic scholars to discuss ‘Ijma’ at Istanbul symposium

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News