Minister of Education: 'We should be able to open girls' schools'

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Minister of Education, Yusuf Tekin, argued that the government should be able to open girls' schools. Tekin made the argument during a live broadcast TV program, and he said the reason is that "some families do not want to send their girls to the same school with boys,"

Yusuf Tekin responded to questions on the education system in Turkey in a program on A Haber last night (July 11). 

He argued that the reason that families do not send their girls to school is that they say, "I do not want to send my girl to a school together with the boys." 

The government can therefore open girls' schools "if necessary" in order to increase the schooling rate Tekin stated. 

"Then we should be able to open girls' schools in order to convince the parents. And they should be able to send their children to girls's schools, or to the schools that the boys go to, as they wish," he said. 

"Coeducation is the rule"

The Minister underlined that he is not against coeducation. "Coeducation is the rule. But if it is necessary to take such measures in order to increase the schooling rates, let us take these measures together," he said.

"Some say that I am against coeducation. No, to the contrary. I am for the liberties. There will be coeducation for the parents who want to have it. Our law on national education states that coeducation is the rule, anyhow. But my duty is to increase the schooing rates," Minister Tekin said in the TV program.  (RT/PE)