‘Obligation to know Turkish’ | 4 academics from France leave Galatasaray University

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The Council of Higher Education (YÖK), in February 2021, obligated the academics from France to know and certify their knowledge of at least B2 level Turkish in order to give education at universities in Turkey.

On May 29, 2021, the academics took the Turkish language test offered by the Yunus Emre Institute, which is affiliated with the Yunus Emre Foundation, where the 11th President of Turkey Abdullah Gül is also among the founding members. However, four academics who have been unable to show that they know at least B2 level Turkish have left Galatasaray University.

CLICK - YÖK insists on 'Turkish' at Galatasaray University

As reported by Medyascope news website, four academic from France have left the university while two academics will try to get a certificate documenting their at least B2 level Turkish till this September.

What happened?

After France made it obligatory for foreign imams and teachers to know B2 level French, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) made it obligatory for academics from France to know B2 level Turkish.

After December 2020, the work and residence permits of Galatasaray University academics from France who could not document that they knew B2 level Turkish were not renewed. After this, the authorities from France talked to the YÖK officials and the work and residence permits of the academics from France were renewed in March 2021, regardless of whether they documented their B2 level Turkish proficiency or not. However, this exception will not be offered in the 2021-2022 academic year.

On May 29, 2021, the academics from France took the Turkish language test offered by the Yunus Emre Institute, which is affiliated with the Yunus Emre Foundation, where the 11th President of Turkey Abdullah Gül is also among the founding members. (SO/SD)