The Education Trade Union (Eğitim Sen) Mersin branch issued a statement on 21 February, International Mother Language Day and emphasized that education in one's own mother tongue is a right.
The Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim Sen) Mersin branch told a press conference to present the activities for 21 February, International Mother Language Day, that "education in the mother tongue is a right, it cannot be prevented."
Duygu Taner, Education Secretary of the union spoke about "the importance of keeping the mother tongue alive. Education in one's own mother tongue is a right.”
EğitimSen stated its demands as follows;
"* Turkey's reservations in the articles of the relevant international conventions regulating children's rights need to be removed and approved.
* Instead of the 1982 Constitution, a democratic constitution that will embrace society in all its linguistic/cultural diversity should be prepared. The part of the new constitution on the right to education and training should be prepared by taking into account international documents on human rights and fundamental freedoms and children's rights.
* Legislation in the education system should be rearranged, taking into account the reality and needs of a multilingual and multicultural society.
* The state should set aside its repressive interference with the language issue. It should also guarantee all citizens' development in their mother tongue as well as in the official state language.
* Necessary legal and administrative arrangements should be made so that these languages can be used in the public sphere, especially in education.
* A proper record of mother tongues used in Turkey should be created.
* For a good language education, first of all, students should be given a qualified education in their mother tongue.
* In the pre-school period, mother tongue education should be formally started, with emphasis on oral expression, reading and written expression.
* Multicultural and multilingual educational environments and opportunities should be created in public education centers.
* Departments and institutes related to different mother tongues and cultures used in the country should be established in universities or the number, quality and activities of those already established should be increased.
