Büşra Turan

 

WAN - Speaking about the importance of mother tongue in the new academic year, Funda Demir Bozkurt from Education-Sen reminded that mother tongue is seen as a security issue in Turkey, saying, “Equality in language is one of the most important pillars of a democratic and peaceful society.” 

 

Policies of denial, destruction, and assimilation against the Kurdish people have been going on for years. While attacks on the Kurdish people's language and culture continue, the people cannot access education in their mother tongue. As the new academic year begins, tens of thousands of Kurdish students are deprived of their right to education in Kurdish. According to experts, the failure to recognize the right to education in one's mother tongue causes educational failure and pedagogical problems among children.

 

Funda Demir Bozkurt, Co-Chair of the Wan Branch of the Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim-Sen), spoke about the importance of the mother tongue in the new academic year. 

 

'There is no right to education in one's mother tongue in Turkey'

 

Funda Demir Bozkurt pointed out that the United Nations (UN) Declaration of the Rights of the Child emphasizes the right to education in one's mother tongue, stating, "Despite signing the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, Turkey does not provide education in the mother tongue. It was only included in the elective course category under the name ‘Living Languages and Dialects’ after 2011-2012 and was organized as two class hours per week. However, children still do not have the right to education in their mother tongue in Turkey."

 

'We are criminalized for defending our mother tongue'

 

Stating that Eğitim Sen is the only union in Turkey that defends mother tongue education and includes it as a principle in its charter, Funda Demir Bozkurt said, "We are perhaps the only union in the world that is criminalized for demanding mother tongue education. We frequently raise the necessity of mother tongue education, both pedagogically and in terms of human rights, based on the difficulties we encounter in the field. We are conducting studies and developing various policies on this issue." 

 

Single language barrier

 

Funda Demir Bozkurt, who states that no child with a different mother tongue can receive a full education in Turkey, says, "Children start life with their mother tongue, but when they reach elementary school, they encounter a completely different language. This creates a huge barrier for them. Numerous pedagogical problems arise, such as inability to adapt to the school environment, inability to communicate with peers and teachers, and inability to feel a sense of belonging. This situation remains an obstacle throughout the child's educational life." 

 

International decline

 

Emphasizing Turkey's declining performance in international exams, Funda Demir Bozkurt said, “We observe that the academic achievement of children who do not receive education in their mother tongue lags far behind that of children whose mother tongue is Turkish. In a multilingual and multicultural country like Turkey, the absence of mother-tongue education means that children face inequality from the very beginning.” 

 

'It is seen as a security issue'

 

Funda Demir Bozkurt pointed out that mother-tongue education in Turkey has always been viewed as a security issue, saying, "However, mother-tongue education is not a security issue, but a fundamental human right, a pedagogical necessity, and a natural result of multiculturalism. Defending mother tongue education is perceived as if it will lead to the division and fragmentation of the country. There are many examples around the world; in countries that provide education in more than one language, children feel more belonging, can express themselves more comfortably, become more open pedagogically, and are in a much better position academically than countries that have not adopted this education." 

 

'Equality in language is an important step for a democratic society'

 

Pointing out that the multilingual education model makes a significant contribution to the world of education, Funda Demir Bozkurt said, "Turkey is also a country with a high influx of refugees. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the interests not only of the people living in Turkey but also of the children who have come here due to war or other reasons. For this reason, the multilingual education system and multilingual public services must be addressed together. This is one of the most important reasons for creating a multicultural, peaceful, and democratic society. Children who encounter language barriers do not feel equal to other people in their future lives. Equality in language is one of the most important pillars of a democratic and peaceful society." 

 

'It contributes greatly to social peace'

 

Emphasizing that education in one's mother tongue contributes greatly to social peace, Funda Demir Bozkurt stressed that the importance of education in one's mother tongue should be discussed much more frequently at a time when democratic society and the peace process are being debated. Funda Demir Bozkurt stated, “One of the most important elements of a democratic community is to live together by accepting the existence of another community or people, without eliminating or assimilating them, and by preserving their language and culture through a process of integration. This creates great opportunities for social peace, justice, and equality.” 

 

'An inventory of native languages should be compiled'

 

Funda Demir Bozkurt stated that a more democratic constitution embracing the entire society is necessary, adding, "First of all, an inventory of all native languages existing in Turkey should be compiled, and the number of native languages should be determined. Starting from preschool, the education curriculum should be developed in accordance with the children's mother tongue. It is also very important that this curriculum be scientific, secular, equal, and gender and species-equal. In addition, scientific studies on education in the mother tongue should be conducted at universities, and institutes and departments should be established."