Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

President Gül approves democratization package

by Daily Sabah

Mar 14, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
No Image
by Daily Sabah Mar 14, 2014 12:00 am
ISTANBUL – President Abdullah Gül approved a bill to close prep schools by September 2015 as well as the bill known as the "democratization package" proposed by the AK Party government.

The law pertaining to the abolishment of prep schools removes the definition of prep schools or "dershanes" from the relevant article and prohibits the reestablishment of institutions that serve the purpose of preparing students for university entrance exams.

Existing prep schools will be converted to private schools by the end of the 2018-2019 academic year. Institutions failing to meet necessary conditions to convert into private schools within the specified period will be prohibited from establishing new institutions.

The approval of the democratization package will introduce a number of democratic reforms designed to provide more rights and freedoms for all, especially marginalized minorities.

With the new law, political parties will be able to campaign in different languages during election periods and the obligation for parties to establish organizations in towns will be abolished.

The election threshold for receiving government subsidies will be lowered 3 percent of the vote, whereas it used to be 7 percent. Mayors, political parties, trade bodies and unions will also be taken into consideration when determining the place and route of meetings and demonstrations. Audio and video recordings of people who participate in such meetings and demonstrations will only be used for determining suspects of crimes and criminal evidence.

Other features of the democratization package include the implementation of penalties for prevention of collective or individual worship, or the prevention of an individual's right to education, in line with universal human rights principles. The package will also address social issues such as gender inequality, accessibility for people with disabilities, and increased rights for minorities.

The law to shut down prep schools has become a serious issue as the Gülen Movement, which is in charge of a significant number of prep schools in the country, has strongly opposed it and started a campaign against the government.

Those who support the closure claim prep schools have become a financial and psychological burden on students and families who are under constant pressure to keep up with the busy schedule and costs of the institutions in order to enter university. The government has proposed to revolutionize the education system and abolish the university entrance exams in efforts to bring it to global standards.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Mar 14, 2014 5:37 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Istanbul, Turkey.
    The top 50 most beautiful cities in the world
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021