Minister of National Education Tekin: ‘Let’s all come together with Turkey Century Education Model, let’s be one nation, let’s unite’

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin stated, ‘The Turkey Century Education Model is exactly focused on this mission of ours. We want our unity and togetherness to be everlasting. Let’s continue to understand each other sincerely and embrace with respect. Let’s all be a nation together, let’s be one.’ Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Public Ombudsman Şeref Malkoç, and representatives of Alevi-Bektashi civil society organizations attended the ‘Twelve Imams Fasting’ Iftar Program organized at the Ankara Teacher’s Lodge. Speaking after the iftar, Minister Tekin emphasized that the acts of worship, rituals, traditions, and relationships that lead us to be a nation within the societal structure. Pointing out that these brought from the thousands of years of history of these lands, society, and state tradition to these days as a nation, Tekin said, ‘Today, this iftar program that brings us together is very critical from this aspect. The month of Muharram and our activities within this month are very important for our national consciousness.’ Tekin emphasized that fasting is a common aspect of all sacred religions, stating, ‘Every sacred religion advises its followers to fast in different forms and with different meanings. However, all these forms advise to stay away from worldly pleasures and evils, to be a good and virtuous person at certain times of the year.’ ‘If we cannot experience and maintain the sense of unity, we will lose our sense of being a nation,’ Tekin said. ‘In the Alevi-Bektashi tradition, defined as ‘having control over one’s hand, tongue, and waist’, there are specific fasting forms for certain special days as well. The reason for us being here today and together is to mourn the day of calamity and disaster experienced by the grandchildren of the Prophet, Hz. Hussein, and his family in the Anatolian Alevi-Bektashi tradition, and to commemorate the martyrs,’ Tekin added. Tekin stated that as the ministry, they are obliged to ensure that the same feelings are experienced on important days symbolizing social unity and to lead the reflection of empathy to future generations, saying, ‘Unity in joy, sorrow, and grief is the simplest definition of being a nation. Thanks to this unity, we think about Karabakh with our brothers in Azerbaijan, and we pray in word and deed for our brothers in Palestine who are subjected to Israeli oppression together. If we cannot experience and maintain this sense of unity, we will lose our sense of being a nation. Our main goal as the Ministry of National Education is to live and uphold this consciousness at all times. The Turkey Century Education Model we have newly prepared is exactly focused on this mission of ours. We want our unity and togetherness to be everlasting. Let’s continue to understand each other sincerely and embrace with respect. Let’s all be a nation together, let’s be one.’