Gulen-inspired College Prep Centers

One of the hottest topics these days in Turkey is the proposed closure of private after-school preparation institutions (college prep centers). In a country with a rapidly changing agenda, it’s hard to tell just how long this topic will remain this heated but the issue is vital as any steps taken have the potential to lead to long-term effects.

The Gulen-inspired College prep centers that have attracted the attention due to their continuous university placement accomplishments are among these prep centers to be closed.

The Turkish Ministry of Education is planning to close private after-school preparation institutions (college prep centers), on the grounds that they are inconsistent with the law on education passed during the Turkish revolution, the Unification of Education Law. However, it is wrong to break the existing order unless you have a better idea in mind. Turkey is among the countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that have the highest rates of child poverty. The American Brookings Institution recently released a study indicating that children from poor families can have a successful career if they enroll in decent schools. An education system could have been established including college prep centers, a system that would have helped poor successful students enter good schools. [1]

The arguments in favor of closing the prep schools are neither strong nor credible. Democratically elected governments do not have to consult with the broader population for every decision; otherwise, governance would be impossible. But an important decision that would impact a large part of society should be discussed broadly. In the US, President Barack Obama presented his signature health-care reform plans before each of the two presidential elections and discussed the issue with his opponents in public debates. People who voted for him knew what they were getting. Turkey’s government voiced its concerns about the prep schools in the past and indicated its desire to lessen the demand for them, but closure by law was a surprise to everyone. [2]

The college prep centers in Turkey are not provided by the government, with the exception of a few schools that give scholarships to the economically disadvantaged. In general, the kids and their families are on their own when it comes to the fees. In Turkey, most middle and high school students attend college prep centers outside of regular school hours while preparing for exams that will decide which high schools and universities they will be eligible to attend. Examining the role of similar institutions in other countries, the Turkish Ministry of Education commission has discovered that in countries which had closed college prep centers they were reopened after a while. College prep centers are an unchangeable reality of Turkey. They are an unchangeable condition within the general conditions of Turkey. These centers provide socializing centers for students as well. They structure time for students, ensuring that a student’s afternoon does not pass by idly, providing a clear cut program for students who otherwise might be stuck in front of a computer, on the Internet, at home or passing his or her time on the streets.

It should be noted that Gulen-inspired prep schools are not a matter of public debate in Turkey. The people have no negative perception of or complaints against those institutions. Thus, it is not possible to argue that the governmentís plan to shut the schools is a move to meet a popular demand. So, the only other argument is that the governmentís motivation is to punish the Gulen community [3]

Fethullah Gulen has been living in the United States since 1999 has authored over 60 books and many articles. According to the CBS news program 60 Minutes, he urges followers to build schools instead of mosques, and teach science instead of religion. He denies being a leader of a movement, but people he has inspired have gone on to form more than 1,000 schools around the world. There is no indication that Gulen schools have been pushing a religious doctrine in the classroom. The educational perspective of Fethullah Gulen is the illumination of the mind to science and knowledge, and the lighting of the heart in faith and virtue. This can be accomplished though teachers who are committed to devoting their lives, time and knowledge to teach the younger generations in these educational institutions.

One of the main factors behind the success of Gulen-inspired prep centers is the role of committed and dedicated teachers at these centers. 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. Inspired by the philosophy of thinker Gulen these teachers are dedicating themselves to serve the students. Teachers graduated from the prestigious universities in Turkey and could get a reasonably good job, yet they prefer to work at Gulen-inspired prep centers. For Fethullah Gulen, to reach superior education in educational institutions, teachers are to be prepared excellently. Therefore, teachers are regularly trained by in-service training programs given by educational professionals during holiday times through workshops, observations, seminars and conferences. Hence, teachers in Gulen-inspired prep centers strive to achieve academic perfection. One of the key factors that accelerate students understanding of concepts is an increase in their problem solving, analytical and practical skills in each subject area, which therefore leads to the outstanding results achieved by the schools. Fethullah Gulen emphasizes the cooperation of the prep centers and family in order to cultivate well educated and morally behaved generations. While the prep centers should be as perfect as possible as regards the curriculum, exemplary teachers with knowledge and values, and in the overall physical condition of the school, he stresses the necessary role of a family in the provision of a warm and quality environment at home. Visiting students’ families in their homes assist teachers to build trust, to learn about each students’ studying environment at home, to discuss and offer some recommendations to parents related to their child education

The government plan to close prep centers has divided society and led to fear among some sections of the public that socioeconomic differences may further affect students’ academic achievement after the closure. Many parents who cannot afford to send their children to private schools will face difficulties if the government continues with its plan to transform prep schools into private schools. The government’s decision to close down college prep centers, without first taking compensatory steps, doesn’t have the backing of the public as well. Only 21 percent of those polled support the government’s move.

Cemil Genc

[1] http://www.todayszaman.com/news-330060-lets-think-again-about-closing-dershanes.html
[2] http://www.todayszaman.com/news-333955-how-the-dershane-ban-contradicts-free-market-principles-by-mehmet-ozhabes-.html
[3] http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/11/gulen-akp-conflict-prep-schools.html