Turkish teachers' union to fight Education Ministry collaboration with nationalist Grey Wolves in court

Duvar English

Turkey's Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim Sen) on Jan. 8 announced that it took to court the most recent protocol signed between the Education Ministry and the nationalist Grey Wolves (“Ülkü Ocakları”), 

The Turkish Education Ministry’s Lifelong Learning Center signed a protocol on Dec. 31 with the Grey Wolves (“Ülkü Ocakları”), enabling the organization to offer general, vocational, and technical courses in schools under the ministry. The protocol also authorized the group to organize activities.

A protocol dated Dec. 31 was circulated in the ministry and sent to the Grey Wolves "Education and Culture Foundation," reported journalist İsmail Saymaz.

The Grey Wolves, operating across Turkey for decades, is officially the grassroots organization of the government-ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The organization has often been involved with armed clashes, kidnappings, and assassinations.

Eğitim-Sen General Secretary Zülküf Güneş described the agreement as "alarming" and announced that the union had filed a lawsuit seeking its cancellation.

Güneş noted that similar protocols had been signed previously, against which the union has consistently fought.

He added that although the Grey Wolves was currently recognized by the state as a public-benefit organization, everyone "knew the truth."

"With a history tainted by criminal associations and occasional violence, its current ability to conduct educational activities is deeply concerning. The quality of education and the exposure of children to such nationalist organizations are truly worrying,” Güneş said.

He stated that the ministry’s role is to provide educational activities in schools, not to create opportunities for nationalist and reactionary entities.

“They have opened schools to religious and racist groups, foundations, and organizations. As a result, we now see such groups actively operating in schools. The protocols signed with the Grey Wolves show how easily nationalist organizations can become part of educational activities in schools,” he said.

Calling on education workers not to be complicit in this issue, Güneş added, “We are committed to using all our resources to prevent the implementation of this protocol and will continue our legitimate struggle wherever necessary.”

Güneş also emphasized that the union had filed lawsuits against all known similar protocols. “We filed lawsuits not only against this protocol but also against every agreement we discovered. Some were canceled, while others are still in legal proceedings. We have also filed a lawsuit against this protocol and will continue to pursue legal action,” he said.

In 2023, the Education Ministry launched the ÇEDES ("I Am Sensitive to My Environment and Uphold My Values") project in a similar protocol signed with the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and the Youth and Sports Ministry. The project expanded the roles of the Education Ministry’s Directorate of Religious Education and the Diyanet.

The initiative allowed religious officials to provide the so-called values education to students under the title of "spiritual advisors." The protocol defines spiritual advisors as preachers, religious services specialists, Quran course instructors, and religious officials offering spiritual counseling and guidance at Diyanet youth centers and mosques.

Turkish education director appoints imams to 99 district schoolsEducation

Education directorate argues AKP municipalities taking students to morning prayers 'do not violate Constitution'Education

‘Environmental values class’ in Turkey: sacrifice rituals, handcuffing childrenEducation