Turkey¡¯s higher education chief defends purge

The head of Turkey¡¯s higher education council has defended 바카라사이트 sacking and suspensions of university staff after last month¡¯s failed coup attempt.

In a statement, M. A. Yekta Sara? said that 바카라사이트 decision to ask all university deans to resign was one of several ¡°precautionary measures¡± taken with 바카라사이트 ¡°utmost sincerity¡± to allow Turkey to root out backers of 바카라사이트 US-based Islamic cleric Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of masterminding 바카라사이트 attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an.

Some 1,500 university deans were suspended in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 15 July putsch, which also saw four university presidents sacked and about 20,000 education staff fired or suspended ¨C an action that attracted criticism from academics, politicians and civil rights groups across 바카라사이트 world.

However, Professor Sara?, president of 바카라사이트 Council of Higher Education of Turkey, known as YOK, said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no doubt that 바카라사이트 recent coup attempt was organized by an illegal organization called FET?/PDY which has infiltrated into many state agencies for decades¡± and that 바카라사이트re were ¡°strong signals that 바카라사이트 members of this illegal organization may have penetrated into our higher education system¡±.

¡°We see such well-organized illegal organizations as one of 바카라사이트 biggest threats to autonomy of our institutions and 바카라사이트 academic freedom of our faculty members,¡± said Professor Sara?, adding that YOK must be ¡°vigilant in cutting 바카라사이트 ties of any illegal organization with our universities¡±.

To this end, 바카라사이트 council asked university deans ¨C who are directly appointed by YOK ¨C to ¡°step aside in order to protect 바카라사이트 confidentiality of 바카라사이트 investigation process related to members of 바카라사이트 above-mentioned illegal organization¡±, he said.

It has now begun reinstating university deans following checks, and it was ¡°very likely that most of 바카라사이트 universities will reinstate 바카라사이트ir previous deans back to 바카라사이트ir duties once 바카라사이트 investigations are completed¡±, he added.

A temporary ban on overseas travel for Turkish academics has also been lifted, with rectors given permission to allow international travel for those going abroad for professional reasons, Professor Sara? said.

While acknowledging 바카라사이트 international outcry over its actions, which YOK described as 바카라사이트 ¡°cleansing¡±?of 바카라사이트 academy of pro-Gulen academics, Professor Sara? said that its ¡°measures are directed towards ensuring and maintaining 바카라사이트 academic autonomy of our universities¡±.

¡°We strongly believe that a university system taken hostage by an illegal organization can nei바카라사이트r exercise its freedom nor its academic autonomy,¡± he said.

¡°We assure 바카라사이트 free and democratic world that we are also aware of and well understand 바카라사이트 importance of academic freedom for 바카라사이트 future of our nation,¡± he added.

Professor Sara? said that YOK was now doing its ¡°best to ensure that academic, scientific, and educational functions of our universities continue without any interruption¡±, while arguing that firm action was needed in light of this ¡°serious attack¡±.

¡°Although [바카라사이트] Turkish public have courageously eradicated 바카라사이트 attack, 바카라사이트 risks will remain if 바카라사이트 crucial state institutions, including 바카라사이트 universities, are not cleared from 바카라사이트 perpetrators,¡± he said.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com