Job Discussion Forums

[sixthchild]

Been reading a lot about this in the local English newspapers, still don't understand the reasoning behind it. I always understood they were started because the normal state and private schools were lacking in some way!
Is the man in Ankara putting a replacement for them together or are we going to see a total overhaul of the Turkish education system, most people will agree that would be a logical first step.

[Richard62]

It's a politically-motivated decision actually. About one third of the schools in Turkey are owned by the Gulen movement (Fatih University has links with this movement too). Erdogan is skeptical about the growing power of Gulenists, so the government has decided to close down all the dershanes in an attempt to reduce the influence of the Gulen movement.

[sixthchild]

Ok, I can see that part actually, still leaves the question about replacing them (dershanes) with something the same or even better!

[ossie39]

As I understand it is not the language schools that are closing down but the dersanes. They teach other subjects. The dersane are not all closing but will be in effect 'taken over' by the government. A redeployment of some staff and building adaption in some places. True that particular group does have a power hold on a large number of establishments so some of their language schools might get hit. Ultimately I understand that there is an attempt to become more creative in teaching and asessment rather than teacher centredness and endless multiple choice tests. They want to have better calibre students at university. The dersanes have too much power in the education system. This is how it was explained to me by 3 state regional deputy education directors.

[wander&teach]

Have been following this story pretty closely by means of reading two opposing Turkish newspapers here daily. As with almost everything in Turkey, (and eastward) the truth is about as clear as mud. The approach to solving issues in this part of the world appears to many outsiders like an episode of the Keystone Cop's when in reality this is how things are typically hashed out. There is little to no input from citizens, things change rapidly, there is a lot of mud slinging as major media groups are simply extensions of any particular party supporting, funding or threatening them and endless stories are fabricated in an attempt to discredit the opposing team. Then magically one day the clouds part and a mandate is written in stone, no questions asked, typically creating more problems than it solves. Of course the opposing figures balk loudly and than slowly begin to "disappear". Privately the general population willingly or reluctantly accepts the decision but rarely if ever will question it.

From what I have observed the last couple of years, the Gezi Park incident has sparked renewed hope for change but the movement has a long path to maturity and is currently no match for the powers in office and likely won't be until there is a shift in power making for a very interesting election period next year.