Turkey to change curriculum of FETO schools taken over

KONYA, Turkey

"Some significant changes" are on the way to the curriculum of FETO-linked schools abroad which have been handed over to Turkey's Maarif (Education) Foundation, according to the chairman Monday.

"We will be offering a substantial teaching of the Turkish language. There will be Turkish prep classes," Cem Zorlu told Anadolu Agency.

Noting that the language of instruction is French in Africa-based schools, and English elsewhere, Zorlu said the goal is to ensure that school graduates are able to speak and write in two foreign languages.

All changes to the curriculum would be "in line with the requests of the authorities of respective countries, and parents," he said, adding the changes would be implemented as soon as the process is completed to transfer the schools in some 50 countries.

"We took over the schools in Guinea, and signed memorandums of understanding with the governments of Chad, Somalia, Sudan, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania, and Niger.

"Negotiations are still ongoing [for the schools] in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Thailand, Cambodia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Iraq, northern Iraq, Moldova, Uganda, Australia, Indonesia and Azerbaijan," he said.

According to Turkey’s government, FETO leader Fetullah Gulen -- a resident of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania -- masterminded the July 15 defeated coup, which left at least 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara has also said FETO is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

The terrorist group is also known for its network of hundreds of schools around the world.

So far, over 80 FETO organizations operating abroad, including schools and training centers, have been shut down or transferred to the Turkish government.