History books will be revised: Turkish education minister

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

An education ministry board is working comprehensively on removing the remarks that discriminate against citizens, says Minister Avcı. AA photo

Discriminatory statements in history textbooks will be removed, Education Minister Nabi Avcı has said. 
The Board of Education and Discipline is working on a revision of the content of history textbooks, Avcı said at a symposium in Istanbul on May 15. “The Board of Education and Discipline is conducting a rooted study regarding all history education. 

History textbooks will be revised,” said Avcı. “The board is working comprehensively on removing the remarks that discriminate between us instead of uniting us and to write textbooks that include the success of all peoples,” said Avcı. 

“I cannot tell you item by item, but all history textbooks are being revised one by one. They will complete each other in a coherent way,” Avcı told reporters upon questions. 

Avcı also said there were many elements in history textbooks that disturbed him; however he declined to give an example of this. “You will see them [disturbing remarks] when we correct them. It will be an open-ended study.”

Meanwhile, Avcı said May 20, a Monday, would be a holiday for high schools as the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day – honoring founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – will be celebrated on May 19, a Sunday. However, primary and secondary schools will be open on May 20. The celebrations of Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day are being held by high school students, so the following day will be a holiday.