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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 21 2012
Marking first, Turkish minister visits Armenian school
by Vercihan ZiflioÄ?lu
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Education Minister Ã-mer Dinçer conducted a historic visit to
Mıhitaryan Armenian School in Å?iÅ?li's Pangaltı neighborhood, becoming
the first minister from the department to visit an Armenian school in
the history of the Turkish Republic.
The occasion was in return for a visit last year in which students
from the school came to Dinçer's office to request that hostile
references to Armenians be removed from textbooks.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News before Dinçer's visit, the
school's principal, Karekin Barsamyan, said they were very pleased to
host such a historic visit.
`Minorities think they are the only ones who are subjected to
problems, but this is not the case,' Dinçer said during the event,
which included a cocktail. `In the past, not only the minorities and
Alevis, but Sunnis were also victimized by authoritarian rulings and
violations of rights and liberties. We aim to spread [practices in
accordance with] human rights and liberties. The only way to create a
peaceful atmosphere in society is democracy.'
The minister also touched on elective courses on mother tongues that
began this school year. `We are taking our actions by considering that
each child is an independent individual,' Dinçer said.
The ministry drew reaction after stipulating that such classes would
only be opened after 10 students expressed a demand to take the
lessons.
Addressing recent discussions over the insertion of religious
questions onto the university entrance exam, the minister said: `The
subject was unfortunately misrepresented to the public. The lessons
have been given and the questions have been asked under the category
of `Education for Religion and Ethics' for years. It is not about a
specific religion. [Students from] minority schools will be asked
other questions in accordance with their curriculum.'
December/21/2012
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/marking-first-turkish-minister-visits-armenian-school.aspx?pageID=238&nID=37312&NewsCatID=339
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dec 21 2012
Marking first, Turkish minister visits Armenian school
by Vercihan ZiflioÄ?lu
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Education Minister Ã-mer Dinçer conducted a historic visit to
Mıhitaryan Armenian School in Å?iÅ?li's Pangaltı neighborhood, becoming
the first minister from the department to visit an Armenian school in
the history of the Turkish Republic.
The occasion was in return for a visit last year in which students
from the school came to Dinçer's office to request that hostile
references to Armenians be removed from textbooks.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News before Dinçer's visit, the
school's principal, Karekin Barsamyan, said they were very pleased to
host such a historic visit.
`Minorities think they are the only ones who are subjected to
problems, but this is not the case,' Dinçer said during the event,
which included a cocktail. `In the past, not only the minorities and
Alevis, but Sunnis were also victimized by authoritarian rulings and
violations of rights and liberties. We aim to spread [practices in
accordance with] human rights and liberties. The only way to create a
peaceful atmosphere in society is democracy.'
The minister also touched on elective courses on mother tongues that
began this school year. `We are taking our actions by considering that
each child is an independent individual,' Dinçer said.
The ministry drew reaction after stipulating that such classes would
only be opened after 10 students expressed a demand to take the
lessons.
Addressing recent discussions over the insertion of religious
questions onto the university entrance exam, the minister said: `The
subject was unfortunately misrepresented to the public. The lessons
have been given and the questions have been asked under the category
of `Education for Religion and Ethics' for years. It is not about a
specific religion. [Students from] minority schools will be asked
other questions in accordance with their curriculum.'
December/21/2012
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/marking-first-turkish-minister-visits-armenian-school.aspx?pageID=238&nID=37312&NewsCatID=339
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress