Armenian nationals affected by Türkiye’s ban on Istanbul minority schools

Under a new decision by Türkiye’s Ministry of Education, children who are Armenian citizens will no longer be able to study at Armenian minority schools in the country. The measure concerns foreign nationals more broadly and is not limited to Armenian schools, with other minority schools also affected.

For nearly ten years, these children from Armenia, whose parents have the right to work or reside in Türkiye, have been allowed by Turkish authorities to receive education at Armenian schools in Istanbul under “guest student” status. At these schools, the children attended all classes and took exams alongside children from the Armenian community in Türkiye, but did not receive official graduation certificates. Instead, they were given a document containing their final grades.

However, inspectors from Türkiye’s Ministry of Education recently informed Armenian schools that children from Armenia can no longer continue their education there. Under the new decision, these children must instead attend Turkish state schools.

Ara Gochunyan, editor-in-chief of Istanbul’s Armenian newspaper Jamanak, told Armenpress that the ministry’s new decision does not apply only to Armenian schools and children from Armenia. “The ministry has had certain observations concerning other minority schools as well, based on which it felt the need to intervene. As a result, a situation has emerged in which the children of families who emigrated from Armenia and attend our schools under ‘guest student’ status are being deprived of this opportunity,” Gochunyan said.

He explained that in this particular case, the decision concerns only Armenian community schools and does not apply to the Hrant Dink School operating in Istanbul. The school, which has operated since the early 2000s, is not recognized by the Turkish authorities and has no official status. It provides education to children of migrants from Armenia temporarily residing in Türkiye. Education there is conducted using Armenian textbooks in accordance with Armenia’s educational curriculum.

Children graduating from the Hrant Dink School have the opportunity to come to Armenia and continue their education after taking an examination. Meanwhile, children attending minority schools have no official status and do not even receive official diplomas. Although even having a document confirming their grades often creates problems for these children when they seek to continue their education in Armenia, Gochunyan noted that these children from Armenia were nevertheless able to remain in an educational environment in Istanbul in some form.

He said that on August 24, the Union of Armenian Vakifs (foundations) in Türkiye will hold a meeting on the issue, with representatives of all foundations that have schools taking part to discuss possible ways of addressing the situation.

Up to 3,000 children attend Armenian schools in Istanbul, about 70 of whom are Armenian citizens and have until now received education under “guest student” status.

“Moreover, attending school under ‘guest student’ status was also taking place with the permission of the Turkish authorities. Community administrators are now trying to examine the various aspects of the issue and present proposals to the authorities, seeking to understand how the matter can be resolved,” Gochunyan noted.

He also said that following the August 24 meeting, a delegation representing the Armenian community may initiate a visit to the Istanbul Governor’s Office to raise this issue of concern to the community.