Turkey mulls including concept of jihad in school curriculaJanuary 16, 2017 - 16:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s Education Ministry is in the process of including the concept of jihad in compulsory school curricula, the Cumhuriyet daily reported on Friday, January 13. Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz explained the details of the new curriculum to media representatives. The new curriculum, which will be finalized in February, will be put into effect during the 2017-2018 academic year, Turkey Purge said. According to Cumhuriyet, the concept of jihad will be compulsory in school curricula after seventh grade. Yilmaz said the ministry has removed a chapter on the theory of evolution from a textbook for 12th graders, according to a newly announced curriculum by the ministry. One of the changes in the new curriculum is the removal from a textbook of a chapter titled “The beginning of life and evolution.” It has been replaced by a chapter titled “Living creatures and the environment.” In a speech in 2012, then-Prime Minister and current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that his government wants to raise a “pious generation.” Since then, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has embarked on a process of opening religious imam-hatip schools across Turkey. When the AKP took power in 2002, around 65,000 students were enrolled in imam-hatip schools, which are widely criticized for instilling a political Islamist ideology. That figure had risen to more than 1.5 million by 2016. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |