"Education in Mother Tongue" Outcry from Türk Eğitim-Sen: "It is a direct violation of the Constitution, never acceptable!"

ANKARA - Türk Eğitim-Sen President Talip Geylan made a strong statement on October 24, 2025, reminding the Constitutional limits against the demand for "Education in Mother Tongue", which is being discussed in the public opinion, and stating that this demand is a threat to the unitary structure of the Republic of Turkey. Geylan emphasized that no language other than Turkish can be taught to Turkish citizens as their mother tongue in education and training institutions.

General President Geylan drew attention to the legal dimension of the request and stated the following:

" The demand for 'education in mother tongue' is a direct violation of the Constitution. It is unacceptable that this demand is made by those who are responsible for their oath of allegiance to the Constitution!"

Refutation with the Articles of the Constitution

Geylan based his position on two fundamental articles of the Constitution:

1. Article 3: The Republic of Turkey is indivisible with its country and nation and its language is Turkish.

2. Article 42: "No language other than Turkish may be taught to Turkish citizens as their mother tongue in education and training institutions."

Geylan argued that proposing a right to education outside the official language means "directly attacking the existence of the state" in a unitary and national state. He stated that this attitude is in line with the ambitions of separatist and destructive organizations that aim at the indivisible integrity of the country.

"Treacherous Plot in the Hands of Global Organizations"

Underscoring that Turkey is not a federation or a client state, Geylan stated that all sub-identities of the Turkish nation are an honorable part of the great Turkish nation family. Describing the demand for education in mother tongue as "a treacherous plot", Geylan argued that this attempt is a great betrayal and evil to citizens with sub-identities:

"This treacherous plot is a big treachery, controlled by global organizations, which will cut off some of the beautiful people of this beautiful country from education, employment, science, social and economic life and make them 'second class citizens'."

The President stated that neither the state nor the saintly nation will allow this treason and concluded his statement by repeating Article 42 of the Constitution.