Fethullah Gulen Tolerance, Dialogue and Peace
Businessmen and ambassadors from different part of the world have been proudly declared that their trade and diplomatic relations with Turkey has been substantially influenced by Turkish schools in their countries.
Gulen movement, which emerged in the international sphere in the early 1990s, took a different approach and adopted a global strategy that set it apart from existing Turkish organizations. Unlike its predecessors, the Gulen movement’s ambition from the outset was to move beyond local or expatriate Turks in order to reach and include the entire host society. It did so by establishing a presence in a range of areas -from education to commerce to culture- and creating institutions intended to benefit both members of host communities and Turkish migrants. [1]
The question we might raise here; How come an education system become so successful in different part of the world? We are talking about, different cultures, different geographical location, different socioeconomic structure and one common result; Successful Schools and happy parents.
Before seeking the answer we should take a look some of the recent news form these schools;
South African students attending Turkish run Star College in the country have achieved a 100% pass rate at the recently concluded matric exams in 2013. A total of 159 students from Star College had participated in last year’s matric exams amongst a total of 654,723 students across the country. The college’s 100% success rate at the 2013 National Senior Certificate was widely acclaimed by the country’s press. [2]
The Armed Forces of the Philippines have recognized the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga for their contribution to peace in the region. The award came after the Turkish high school in the Philippines gave support to people suffering from internal conflict in Mindanao, one of the islands of the Philippines, and provided 38,000 homeless people with humanitarian assistance. [3]
Speaking at the “Turkey-West Africa Trade Bridge” business event organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), Guinean Ambassador to Turkey Daouda Bangoura said Turkish schools in Africa are important for the economic and cultural interaction between the two countries, adding that they wish for new Turkish schools to be opened in their country. [41]
The first-ever Rwandan ambassador to Turkey, Lt. Gen. Caesar Kayizari, has said that Turkish schools in Africa play an important role in strengthening relations between African nations and Turkey, adding that Turkey has a lot to offer Rwanda in terms of education.
Turkey’s building of schools in Rwanda in particular, and in African countries in general, is of great importance. Education is significant for establishing strong relationships. Turkey for a long time was absent in Africa. Now that it has opened to the continent, education could be one of the tools that the Turkish government can use, as education builds the future,Kayizari said.
Amadou Faal, a businessman from Senegal, said Turkish schools have paved the way for him to attend this TUSKON event. If it would be up to me, I want a hundred Turkish schools to be opened in Senegal, because those schools are important and attractive for not only its education quality but also ethical values taught, he added.[5]
Worldwide Gulen Inspired Schools share ideas that even young children have expectations about the world and that those expectations impact their willpower and character. And, the school as an institution has the major effect on children’s development. Gulen has mentioned in the effect of the environment on the child’s character-related development in his sermons and books
Those who wish to predict a nation’s future can do so accurately by analyzing the education and upbringing being given to its young people.
Until we help our young people through education, they are captives of their environment. They wander about aimlessly, moved by intense passions and far away from knowledge and reason. They can become truly valiant young representatives of the national thought and feeling only if their education integrates them with their past and prepares them intelligently for their future.
Think of society as a crystal vessel, and of its young people as the liquid poured into it. Notice that the liquid assumes the vessel’s shape and color. Evil-minded champions of regimentation tell young people to obey them instead of the truth. Do such people never question themselves? Should they not also obey the truth?
Therefore globally Gulen Inspired Schools provides an environment where they trust in a clear long-term gain. One of the main factors behind the success of these schools is commitment and dedications that have been presented by teachers and managers. Common characteristic of the staff is commitment to make a positive impact to the society. The teachers’ unique approach to the education of their students has constructive impacts and has assisted them to be motivated towards their studies with positive influences on their attitudes. Student education in the reliable environment will develop better willpower and character, and will eventually be equipped with all the skills to stay away from corruption.
Despite great success of the these schools and their positive influence to Turkish Economy, current government changed its position and launch attacks to close the schools.
Mr Erdogan has turned on his former ally in a show of force that is likely to determine his own future as well as that of Turkish politics. Strange though it seems to many, Mr Fethulah Gulen is perhaps the only force that can halt Mr Erdogan’s drift towards authoritarianism. Mr Gulen is also credited with keeping Turkish Islam moderate. [6]
However, Gulen inspired educational intuitions were defended by the local communities and governments and continue to operate despite the pressure from the Turkish Foreign Ministry Turkish schools — which are now in about 160 countries — can’t be shut down by an order from the Turkish government, since most of them were founded by private entrepreneurs in different part of the world. For many years, in countries with no Turkish embassy, these schools served as de facto diplomatic missions. It would be the first place that Turkish officials and journalists would go to for assistance. Under free-market conditions, these schools have become a brand. They are the biggest export commodity of Turkey. They are secular schools that adhere to the curriculum of countries where they operate. Gulen inspired schools becomes important and attractive for not only its education quality but also ethical values have been taught in the intuitions. These exceptionally successful educational intuitions that have been embraced by the people in the different part of the world will continue to grow. And, most recently there are demands for about 500 new schools every year not only in the developing countries but also in the developed western counties as well.
Cemil Genc
Twitter : CemilGenc_WDC
