THE RISING CONCERN ON WEAKENING SECULAR EDUCATION IN TÜRKIYE: THE REMOVAL OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

Abstract

This study investigates the factors contributing to the weakening of secular education in Türkiye, originally shaped by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The weakening of secular education became particularly evident when evolutionary theory was removed from the high school curriculum in 2017. Some scholars argue that this decline was caused by politicians, religious groups, and segments of the public who oppose secular education since it encourages the young generation to keep religion separate from everyday life. To fulfil the objective of this study, qualitative methods were employed, with a particular focus on textual analysis of relevant primary and secondary materials. Additionally, this study employs a constructivist approach to gain a better understanding of how educational reforms impact knowledge construction in Türkiye. The findings reveal that political, religious, and social factors have played a significant role in the complex and controversial process of removing evolutionary theory from the curriculum. This decision is part of Türkiye’s political strategy to strengthen conservative and Islamic values in society, weaken the secular traditions of modern Türkiye, and integrate more religious perspectives into the national education system.