Turkey makes decision set to anger Yerevan: Armenian citizen children to be barred from Armenian schools

Under a new decision by Türkiye’s Ministry of National Education, children who are Armenian citizens and living in the country will no longer be allowed to attend Armenian schools, TodayPress TV reports, citing Armenpress.

Ara Gocunyan, editor-in-chief of the Istanbul-based Armenian-language newspaper Jamanak, made the statement.

According to him, for approximately 10 years, children from Armenia whose parents have the right to work or reside in Türkiye have been allowed to attend Armenian schools in Istanbul as “guest students.” These children attended all classes alongside Turkish Armenians and took examinations, but did not receive official certificates. Instead, they were given a document showing their final grades.

However, inspectors from Türkiye’s Ministry of National Education told Armenian schools several days ago that children who are citizens of Armenia would no longer be able to continue their education at those schools. Under the new decision, they will have to attend Turkish state schools.

According to Gocunyan, the ministry’s new decision does not apply exclusively to Armenian schools and children from Armenia.

“The ministry also had certain concerns regarding schools of other national minorities and considered intervention necessary based on these concerns. As a result, children from families who moved from Armenia and were studying at our schools as ‘guest students’ are being deprived of this opportunity,” Gocunyan said.

It should be noted that up to 3,000 children attend Armenian educational institutions in Istanbul. Approximately 70 of them are citizens of Armenia and have so far studied under “guest student” status.

Giymat Mahir