Controversial Proposal to Abolish Co-education in Turkish Parliament; HÜDA PAR Takes the Lead

In a move that has sparked widespread debate in Turkey's political and educational spheres, the HÜDA PAR party has officially submitted a legislative proposal to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to abolish compulsory co-education. The proposal, signed by party leader Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu and several other deputies, calls for an amendment to Article 15 of the National Education Basic Law [1][2].

Details of the Proposed Changes to the National Education Law According to the proposed text referred to the Parliamentary Commission on Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, HÜDA PAR seeks to change the word "requirements" to "needs" in the current legal text. Currently, Law No. 1739 in Turkey recognizes co-education as a fundamental principle but allows for the establishment of separate schools for girls or boys in "necessary" cases. The new plan seeks to replace these terms to give the government more flexibility to open single-sex schools or even classes based on family demands [1][3].

HÜDA PAR's Arguments for Abolishing Compulsion In justifying the proposal, HÜDA PAR representatives argued that compulsory co-education lacks a scientific and pedagogical basis and, in many cases, prevents some students from exercising their right to education. They claim that some families refrain from sending their children to mixed schools due to personal beliefs or preferences, and the educational system should provide them with diverse options [3][4]. The bill also cites examples from developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia, where single-sex schools have shown positive educational outcomes [1].

Reactions and Political Background This proposal comes after the Turkish Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, previously made similar remarks regarding the possibility of opening girls' schools to increase the enrollment rate of female students [4]. However, critics and secular movements in Turkey are concerned that this move is a step toward undermining the secular principles of the education system and limiting cross-gender social interactions. Currently, the bill has been sent to specialized parliamentary commissions for further review before being put to a vote in the general assembly [2][3].