The Pak-Turk schools

Interior Ministry has asked Turkish nationals who work at Pak-Turk schools to leave the country by Nov 20

In a move that is perhaps unsurprising given that the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently visiting Pakistan, the Interior Ministry has asked the Turkish nationals that work at the chain of Pak-Turk schools to leave the country by November 20^th. Their visas have been cancelled and they were informed by letter on Sunday 13^th November. The action was taken on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It will be recalled that the Turkish government had previously requested that the Pak-Turk schools be closed completely as they were run under the auspices of the man who was behind the failed coup in Turkey last summer. This the Pakistan government declined to do. The Turkish Principals of the schools left the country soon after that request and the schools continued to function.

The number of teachers concerned is 108 and their dependent families are about 400. There are 28 schools and the chain has grown since it was set up in 1995 and there are now 11,000 students whose life and education would be significantly negatively impacted were the schools to close completely. The government appears to recognise this reality and it is to be hoped that the sending back to Turkey of the Turkish teachers and their families will be sufficient to take the heat out of a potentially difficult diplomatic situation.

Turkey and Pakistan have long been allies and have an amicable relationship that stretches back to the time of Independence. There has never been any dispute between us. The government has said that it will not allow any external organisation to ‘interfere’ with the schools and the parents have expressed their concern at the removal of faculty and the effect it will have on their children. There is no suggestion that the parents are in any way motivated politically and only have the education and welfare of their children at heart. There are still questions about the future management of the schools that need to be resolved, but there is no reason why there should not be a positive outcome — and we wish Mr Erdogan a pleasant and fruitful visit.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.

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