Private Supplementary Education Institutions are closed, what is next?

Private Supplementary Education Institutions are closed, what is next? This was the title journalist Fehmi Koru selected for his column on Star Daily on March 2^nd, 2014. Fehmi Koru, a highly appreciated intellectual, is well known by his close relations to both sides of the parties that appear to be the causes of the current tension in Turkey. Author states that the first concrete outcome of this tension is the law that enforces the closedown of private educational institutions. Since parliament passed the law, by September 15, there will be no private educational institutions left.

The dispute between the ‘camia’ and Ak Party had given rise when the party decided to close private educational institutions. On November 14, Zaman Daily, the highest circulated newspaper in Turkey criticized this attempt harshly by publishing the draft of Ministry of Education on shutting down these institutions. As Zaman and STV -main media that are managed by Gulen inspired people- defended the rights of these institutions, Prime Minister Mr. Erdogan have gone further to ask his supporters not the follow these media and not to send their children to the private schools who are affiliated with Gulen inspired people. PM even moved his statements and actions beyond the borders of the country and asked his counterparts to shut down educational institutions in their country and ordered Turkish ambassadors to tell ‘the truth’ to the governments of the countries that they work about what is going on in Turkey.

Koru states that Mr. Erdogan should be sorry about all of these…

Koru then blends two very different events to explain the reasoning of the PM. He literally constructs this sentence: “Now called as ‘post December 17 period’, attempt of effecting the politics by records of phone-tapping, is perceived by PM as a government-like institution in government”. There are several flaws in this sentence, indeed. First, both of these events happened later than the draft published on closedown of the educational institutions. Second, ‘December 17, corruption operation’ is directed by public prosecutors of Turkish Republic which is incomparable to the activities of illegally listening to the phone conversations of the PM. So far, no one has taken on the records of the phone-tapping released on YouTube.

Koru criticizes the broadcasting policy of these media and says that the hatred and hostility in the broadcasts and publications make them ‘the usual suspects’; however, he does not give any concrete example. As an audience of these media, I have not observed uncontrolled outrage as claimed by Koru. I instead have been exposed to two other policies. First is the expression of sadness and the questions of Fethullah Gulen follower’s who keep asking ‘why PM is acting this way’. Second is the video clips compiled of insults of the PM towards the ‘camia’, which are followed by defensive statements to these insults and accusations (conspiracy theories) of the PM.

Despite listing these indicators, Koru yet puts clearly that he is very suspicious about the accuracy of the Prime Minister’s diagnosis and the precautions he has taken. Koru praises the Gulen inspired educational institutions inside the Turkey and outside, serving to the kids of very many different cultures; and says that another method should have been found that does not include shutting down the educational institutions or hauling down the flags of Turkish Republic.

He concludes his piece by a universal quote: “do not let your anger lead you to act unjustly”