CONGRESSIONAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON HOLOCAUST

UNCLAS ANKARA 000152

SIPDIS


FOR EUR/OHI - GREG MATTSON; EUR/PPD


E.O 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI TU
SUBJECT: CONGRESSIONAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON HOLOCAUST
EDUCATION


REF: STATE 348370



1. As requested reftel, post contacted Curriculum
Board (Board of Education) officials at the GOT Ministry of
Education, which determines the national curriculum and sets
guidelines for all textbooks used in public and private
schools in Turkey. According to our contacts, there are a)
no national requirements for teaching the Holocaust; b) no
state or municipal guidelines for teaching the Holocaust; c)
no special curricula that have been developed for Holocaust
education; and d) no special text materials on the Holocaust
being used in the schools.



2. Since the election of the AK Party government in
November 2002, there have been many changes in the
Curriculum Board membership and leadership of the Ministry
of Education. A restructuring of the educational system is
underway that includes the introduction of new textbooks.
To what extent the Holocaust will be covered in an amended
national curriculum and new textbooks is unknown.
EDELMAN