İNCEOĞLU, Sibel İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi - Hukuk Fakültesi - Anayasa Hukuku Anabilim Dalı, Turkey

Position of the Mother Tongue in Education: International Instruments and New Constitution

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Position of the mother tongue in education is an important discussion subject in the Constitution making process that started at the end of 2011. Education in the mother tongue is different than teaching of the mother tongue in education. Whereas teaching of mother tongue (or minority language) in education means teaching of the grammar and other features of that language. education in mother tongue means a curriculum according to which all subjects are taught in mother tongue of that ethnic group. Article 42 of the current Constitution does not allow this. When discussing the demand for education in the minority language, integration of the minority groups comes up as an issue that cannot possibly be ignored. That is because a curriculum that is entirely in the mother tongue of the minority group can make teaching of the official language more complicated, thus resulting in a society where its members do not speak a common language, problems regarding peaceful coexistence can be arose. At this point, alternative solutions for better teaching of the official language that the majority of the people speak to the minority groups must be considered. In that sense, mixed model education systems, in another words bilingual education which balance the demands of the minority groups and the need for living together in an integrated society must be emphasized. For this reason, in-depth discussions over Article 42 will obviously take place in the National Assembly during the constitution making process. During these discussions it will be helpful to dwell on the alternatives in the international instruments on minorities.

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Education in the mother tongue , teaching of the mother tongue , minority language , new constitution.

Hukuk Araştırmaları Dergisi

163