Government says the change will ‘modernise’ learning

A move by the Turkish Education Ministry to remove evolution from the national school curriculum has sparked an outcry and accusations the government is “brainwashing” students.

The government says the change — part of a broad revision of the school curriculum — will modernise learning.

But critics see it has a step back from scientific rigour towards creationism by the Islamic-rooted authorities under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The head of the Turkish education board, Alparslan Durmus, said in a video message evolution would no longer be taught in biology lessons in high schools from September onwards as it was “controversial.”

“We have left aside some controversial subjects because we know it is not possible for our students to have the necessary scientific or information background to understand them,” Mr. Durmus said.

University-level onwards

The theory — formulated by Charles Darwin in the 19th century as the theory of natural selection — would be studied from university-level onwards.

The change is not the only shift in a planned curriculum overhaul that will be implemented by 2019.

Mr. Durmus also said the curriculum would move away from “a Eurocentric point of view”, especially in history lessons.

‘Rotten theory’

The move comes after Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said in January the theory of evolution was “a scientifically obsolete and rotten theory.”

“There is no rule saying that this theory must absolutely be studied,” he said.

Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said the new curriculum — approved by Mr. Erdogan — would “give children a much better education.”

The goal was to ensure “our children and students do not just use knowledge and technology but at the same time will create” them, Mr. Yilmaz said, as quoted by Dogan news agency on June 27.