Greek Language lessons are being successfully carried out for a year now in Constantinople. This initiative was taken by the General Consul Vassilis Bornovas and the lessons are taking place in the Sismanogleion Hall, in the historical Peran neighborhood, located in the heat of Constantinople.
The lessons originally started with one class, but interest gradually grew and today the classes are comprised of 200 students, with 2 departments teaching Greek students, Turkish students of Armenian and Arabic origin and Muslim students from Thrace.
Lack of Books and Teachers
The initiative of the Consulate was followed by many problems at its launch. There are lack of teachers, schools, audiovisual educational material and electronic equipment. Teaching could be supported by the Greek State if Language Schools were established by revocable teachers of the Ministry of Education. Today there are 16 revocable teachers in Constantinople.
Obstacles from the Turkish State
“There are many gaps in the law regarding the teaching of the Greek Language in Turkey. Whilst in Greece there are language schools teaching Turkish, no such private language schools are existent here. Teaching of the Greek Language is not allowed. All these issues must be organized in due course. Unfortunately, Greece is not experienced on this issue, not only here, but in no other country as well”, stressed Mr. Bornovas.
According to information from the Ministry of Education in Greece, more than 100 Language Schools teaching Turkish are operating in Greece, whilst, according to research data of the Eurobarometer for multilingualism, 3% of the respondents stated that they are learning Turkish.
(Source: Ethnos)
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