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TURKISH-ARMENIAN COMMUNITY RENEWS PLEA FOR EDUCATION REFORM
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 18, 2012 - 12:41 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Representatives of the Turkish-Armenian community
have renewed their plea for reform in education to eliminate the
state of uncertainty for children of Armenian immigrant workers, who
are not considered officially eligible to receive education in state
schools, through receiving a valid diploma rather than being granted
"guest student status."
Officials of the GedikpaÅ~_a Armenian Protestant Church, which opened
its doors last year to 84 students whose parents are undocumented
immigrants in Turkey from Armenia, are still awaiting a response to
their ongoing grievances.
The church officials are striving to provide education for 100 students
this school year under tough conditions, facing many legal and physical
challenges. The classes are held in the basement of the church and
some of the makeshift classrooms have no doors. The classrooms used to
be divided by curtains before board separators were recently installed.
Church officials and families are frustrated that nothing has changed
since last year as they tried to address the fact that "guest student
status" does not correspondent to the needs of Armenian immigrants'
students. The parents of these Armenian children were concerned because
guest student status would not be enough for their children, who needed
proof of their education in Armenia, where they planned to return.
Armenian community representatives describe granting "guest student
status" as a deceptive move aimed to silence the community. "Neither
we nor any family are happy with that. We call on the state to give
our children a valid certificate or a valid diploma."
Turkey's new academic year has kicked off for around 17 million
students and 800,000 teachers, with a new education system that
increases the duration of compulsory education from an uninterrupted
eight years to 12 years. The introduction of the system has sparked
ongoing discussions over its practicability.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 18, 2012 - 12:41 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Representatives of the Turkish-Armenian community
have renewed their plea for reform in education to eliminate the
state of uncertainty for children of Armenian immigrant workers, who
are not considered officially eligible to receive education in state
schools, through receiving a valid diploma rather than being granted
"guest student status."
Officials of the GedikpaÅ~_a Armenian Protestant Church, which opened
its doors last year to 84 students whose parents are undocumented
immigrants in Turkey from Armenia, are still awaiting a response to
their ongoing grievances.
The church officials are striving to provide education for 100 students
this school year under tough conditions, facing many legal and physical
challenges. The classes are held in the basement of the church and
some of the makeshift classrooms have no doors. The classrooms used to
be divided by curtains before board separators were recently installed.
Church officials and families are frustrated that nothing has changed
since last year as they tried to address the fact that "guest student
status" does not correspondent to the needs of Armenian immigrants'
students. The parents of these Armenian children were concerned because
guest student status would not be enough for their children, who needed
proof of their education in Armenia, where they planned to return.
Armenian community representatives describe granting "guest student
status" as a deceptive move aimed to silence the community. "Neither
we nor any family are happy with that. We call on the state to give
our children a valid certificate or a valid diploma."
Turkey's new academic year has kicked off for around 17 million
students and 800,000 teachers, with a new education system that
increases the duration of compulsory education from an uninterrupted
eight years to 12 years. The introduction of the system has sparked
ongoing discussions over its practicability.