Fedakarlik (Self-Sacrifice) In Gulen - Inspired School

The Gulen Movement is a faith-based civic movement that promotes science education, charity and interfaith dialogue as well as moderation and corruption-free governments. Followers of the Gulen Movement are known for their schools in more than 160 countries around the world, which provide secular education supported by universal moral values. The schools and activities of the movement are supported by millions of people, mainly businessmen who own small and medium-sized companies, across Turkey and around the world. The recent findings are speaking about the extraordinary achievement that Gulen -Inspired school have demonstrated all over the world so far. Education in Gulen Inspired schools has been defined as an learning environment to addresses cognitive, affective and behavioral learning and can occur both within schools, through curriculum development and teacher education, and outside of schools, through camps, sports and recreation programs, youth groups and clubs, and training for community leaders, parents.

The commitment and hard work of teachers in Gulen -Inspired schools is a significant factor behind their academic success. Teachers are willing to work harder and for longer hours than their counterparts in other schools, and are not paid any more to do so. This willingness is referred to internally in the movement as fedakarlik (self-sacrifice), and is highly prized and encouraged in Gulen – Inspired schools. Sociologically, the Weberian notion of “inner worldly asceticism” provides a framework for understanding how pious religious convictions might motivate Gulen – Inspired educators to exert themselves in pursuit of apparently “worldly” activities for little personal gain [1]

One of the main factors behind the success of these schools is commitment and dedications that have been presented by teachers and managers. 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 become successful in long term.
Fethullah Gulen states that parents and a healthy family life are the first essentials of a child’s education and that dysfunctional family life increasingly reflects upon the child’s spirit, and therefore upon society. In the Gulen – Inspired schools great emphasis is placed, therefore, on the home–school relationship. First, the schools conduct normal, regular parent–teacher meetings in schools, where students’ academic results and general conduct are discussed. Second, every student in a school has a home-room teacher. Throughout the school year these teachers visit the family of each of their students at home outside school hours. Teachers also take after-school clubs, provide extra after-school and weekend tuition and take students on educational visits and field trips. These are all normal practice worldwide throughout the movement. Administrators and teachers believe this extra dedication plays a major role in the success of the schools. All these activities are combined with financial and other material support from the local community, and a tripartite relationship between parents, school and sponsors develops [2] There have been many instances in which Erdogan has directly and publicly targeted Gulen-affiliated schools and urged parents not to send their children to these schools in Turkey and aborad.[3]

The Turkish Ministry of Education, have competing against Gulen –Inspired schools by offering the similar services in different part of the world. These Turkish government backed entities have been struggling the keep up with the success of the Gulen –Inspired schools over the world.
Apparently, Turkish government supported entities stared to shut down its schools in Libya and Kazakhstan. According to a story in the Bugün daily, the ministry closed down its school in Libya due to the political turmoil in the country. Bugün also reported that the ministry is having difficulty convincing teachers to go to the countries where schools are available. [4] Turkish government could not find teacher to send in third world counties regardless of the benefits offered so far. Fedakarlik (self-sacrifice), commitment and dedications to the world peace cannot be obtained by simple offering financial gains. The extraordinary success of the Gulen –Inspired schools have been presented so far is an excellent example…
Cemil Genc | Washington

@CemilGenc_WDC

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[1]http://www.gulenmovement.us/teaching-as-a-holy-vocation-teachers-as-guides-in-hizmet.html
[2]Muslim Citizens of the Globalized World Paperback – December 1, 2007 by Robert Hunt (Author), Yuksel Aslandogan (Author)
[3] http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Compensation-case-filed-against-Erdogan-for-targeting-Gulen-affiliated-schools-_2296-CHMTcxMjI5Ng==
[4]http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Ministry-of-Education-shuts-down-2-schools-abroad-_8605-CHMTcxODYwNQ==