Turkish education in the world: impressions from Tunisia

TUNISIA

On the occasion of the 15th year of the AK Parti's coming to power, taking a break to continue an accounting of this period later, let us convey today our impressions from Tunisia, which we visited for the opening of the Maarif Foundation.

The Maarif Foundation, established by a special law shortly before 15 July to coordinate Turkey's educational activities abroad, has since its founding secured the takeover of 90 schools abroad from FETÖ. In fact, the need for the foundation's establishment was largely to secure the takeover of educational institutions that were operating under the "Turkish Schools" brand but with FETÖ's despicable mission and aims.

It is quite clear that the greatest support for the schools that FETÖ developed as a great success story rested on the financing provided by the innocent and pure feelings of the selfless people of Anatolia, and, again in the AK Parti era, on the prestige and soft power that the name of Erdoğan created all over the world. Even while it was engaged in a thousand and one kinds of frame-ups against Erdoğan inside Turkey, FETÖ abroad was adding strength to its strength by using Erdoğan's name and citing him as a reference. Indeed, since it became clear that it had fallen out with Erdoğan, nothing is left anywhere in the world of its old image and its "success story."

All the stones of the sultanate built abroad on what the people of Anatolia saved by skimping on their very own needs and on Erdoğan's repute are being pulled out one by one. The Maarif Foundation, in the name of the Turkish nation, is taking back this betrayed trust and, by establishing much more productive, much more sincere, much sounder cadres and attaining an educational standard in many countries, is trying to continue the Turkish School brand by repairing it.

Without a doubt, this presence of Turkey abroad in the field of education is a very important field that must not be neglected. The successful management of this field is something Turkey will intensely need in the long run and something indispensable in the vision of the new Turkey. In fact, the great support and prestige that FETÖ in its time lay on top of, and for which the AK Parti was criticized because of it, came to a large extent from their appearing to answer this intense need.

The President of the Maarif Foundation, Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün, makes an interesting observation on this, also based on his real observations in the field: "Claims of quality in education are nothing but an empty image obtained entirely through advertising. To build this image they pulled every kind of trick. It is even a fact that they dressed a Turkish child in the garb of that locality and presented him to visiting guests as having learned perfect Turkish. On the contrary, just as they formed a mischievous generation out of those raised in educational institutions in Turkey, they try to load the same mission onto the schools abroad."

FETÖ, of course, spares no effort so as not to let go of these means it obtained through all sorts of tricks. They try to use to the fullest the lobbying, media and gossip means they have acquired everywhere abroad to slander, undermine and obstruct Turkey and the Maarif Foundation. Maarif Foundation President Akgün, like an expert in political science and international relations and a well-equipped diplomat, tries to answer these attacks as well with his dynamic team.

In Tunisia too, of course, taking over this school and opening it was not easy. The school was opened thanks to the effective initiatives of Ambassador Ömer Faruk Doğan and, truly, the friendly attitude of the Tunisian government toward Turkey. On this occasion the expectation that cooperation between Turkey and Tunisia in education will continue has also formed at a high level. Intensive contact is under way between YÖK and the Tunisian Ministry of Education toward the establishment of a Turkey-Tunisia university. On every occasion we also point out that Ibn Khaldun University, opened in Turkey last year, whose opening was attended, together with our President, by Nahda leader Rached Ghannouchi, will also form an important bridge between Turkey and Tunisia.

TUNISIA EXPORTED REVOLUTION, DID NOT IMPORT A COUP

Tunisia is the country that triggered the Arab Spring process and in which the first Revolution took place in this process. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, realizing within a short time that he could not resist the popular anger directed at him, gathered his belongings and set off for Saudi Arabia on his private plane. He still resides there.

Later, in 2013, when the counter-revolutionary coup wave struck Egypt first and then tried to probe Turkey with the Gezi events, it had also tried to strike Tunisia. The reaction of the Tunisian people at that time was of a kind that would be written as a golden page in the book of democracy: "We exported revolution to Egypt; we have no intention whatsoever of importing a coup from them."

Indeed, the very same forces that supported these coup attempts that succeeded in Egypt and failed in Turkey had planned the coup in Tunisia in all its details and were about to stage it. Everyone today appreciates that Ghannouchi's prudent, conciliatory stance was very effective in getting through this fierce wave or attempt without incident: Ghannouchi played a historic role by saying, "If the whole country will lose its freedom with our government, then let us not be in government, and let the country remain free and democratic."

Today, thanks to that stance, both the country is more democratic and he and the Nahda movement are closer to power. Indeed, this politics could also provide very inspiring data for an in-depth political science study.

RESURRECTION-ERTUĞRUL IN THE COURTYARD OF THE ZEYTUNA MOSQUE

At Friday prayer time, while waiting to meet friends who had come out of the Friday prayer, I had sat on the steps at the entrance of the mosque where everyone sits and was absorbed in the messages on my phone. When I heard the music of the series Diriliş-Ertuğrul behind me, I turned around thinking, "the friends must have arrived," but it was not them. A young Tunisian couple, sitting together, were watching the latest episode of the series on a cell phone and now and then commenting on the scenes. Would you miss the occasion if you were me? A glance and a nod of the head were enough to start an acquaintance. They were engaged, never missed the series, and watched it with great admiration.

The series goes into circulation among Arabs right away, with subtitles, on the day it airs. Not only Diriliş but especially with Payitaht-Abdülhamit, the TRT series have started a tremendous cultural process among the Arab world, laden with tensions of identity, history, personality and civilization.

I think we will continue to watch its reflections.