Only 18% of Armenian community of Istanbul know Armenian language

November 15, 2010 - 15:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan said that the Armenian community of Turkey faces numerous problems, including the problem of education.

Around 47 Armenian schools operated in Istanbul in 1970ies.

Presently, there are 16 schools with 3,000 Armenians studying there, Melkonyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

“Armenia’s history is not taught in schools, while children should study Turkey’s history. Besides, teachers of Armenian schools are unable to teach in Armenian language, thus, almost all lessons are conducted in Turkish,” Melkonyan said, adding that it is a part of Turkish policy.

Melkonyan went on saying: “I have been in several Armenian schools in Istanbul. I asked students why they do not speak Armenian. Their answer was very simple: “If even our teachers do not speak Armenian, how can we do it?”

He said that, according to a social poll, only 18% of the Armenian community of Istanbul knows Armenian language and uses it.

Melkonyan also pointed to another problem – mixed marriages among representatives of the Armenian community of Istanbul, which currently make around 40%.