Turkey Freezes Enrollments in French Schools
Published: August 10, 2024, 4:22 PM
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The Turkish government has abruptly frozen new enrollment for Turkish students in French schools, citing ongoing tensions with France.
“We are not like the ruling countries. We are a free country. So you must work on our terms if you want to study here,” warned the Turkish Minister of Education in mid-July.
The ministry followed through on this threat this Saturday, freezing enrollment in nursery and the first year of primary school in French schools.
Demand for Reciprocity
The dispute stems from Turkey’s persistent demand for recognition of its schools in France. Ankara argues that French schools in Turkey should be allowed to operate with greater autonomy, including the ability to offer Turkish language and cultural programs.
“We will have some questions for Turkish citizens in France,” the minister declared, hinting at potential reciprocity measures.
Negotiations Ongoing
Formal negotiations between the two countries have been ongoing since January, but tensions escalated in July. The final agreement is still under negotiation, but the Turkish Ministry of Education confirmed that discussions are underway to reach a comprehensive educational cooperation agreement.
Impact on French Schools in Turkey
French schools in Turkey are now under de facto supervision. The Turkish Agency for International Education will provide information on enrolled Turkish students and approved schools to the Turkish mission before the next school year. This effectively limits enrollment for Turkish students in French schools.