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The issue of schools between Turkey and France
5-28-2019
Turkey has been accelerating its efforts for opening Turkish schools in other countries but its plans in France hit the wall, triggering new unease between two countries.
"We have been in talks with French administration for opening Turkish state-controlled schools in France for the past few years, but talks could not yield result yet," a Turkish official familiar with the negotiations told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
"The negotiations are conducted on the basis that France has its schools in Turkey for many years, and we seek reciprocity for this practice," the official added.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said that the "negotiations over the schools to be opened by Turkey in accordance with the French education system are essentially carried out on a reciprocal basis with these schools in Turkey."
Earlier, French Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer told local reporters that his government does not favor the idea of Turkey opening high schools in France.
Blanquer hinted that Turkey wants to carry its ideology to France through these schools.
"France cannot be an open field for these ... In France, everyone has to follow the rules of the country. I also conveyed our concerns to the Turkish interlocutor," French media quoted Blanquer as saying.
There are two French public schools in Turkey's Ankara and Istanbul. The first one, Yunus Emre High School, was opened in Strasbourg, France in 2015, under the system of French Ministry of Education.
The Turkish government launched a policy of expanding Turkish schools in other countries through Maarif Foundation, which is responsible for Turkey's education activities abroad in coordination with the Education Ministry and Foreign Ministry.
The foundation has made official contact with 90 countries, currently running 162 schools in 12 countries.
There are among the 600,000-strong Turkish population in France.
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