Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association Egnatias 75, 69100 Komotini-Greece Tel/Fax: +302531029705 E-mail: btaytd@otenet.gr URL: www.btaytd.com UN Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues Geneva, 15-16 December 2008 The Content and Delivery of the Curriculum Tuesday, 16 December 2008 Afternoon Session VII. Thank you Ms. Chairperson, The Greek education system in the recent years has been undergoing significant structural transformations. However, combating inequality and discrimination in the Greek educational system and improving the situations of minority groups and the dialogue among the ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities is and will be as a matter. Since, the Greek government does not recognize any ethnic and linguistic minorities within its territory. The legal status and the rights of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace were established by the Peace Treaty of Lausanne and other bilateral agreements between Turkey and Greece. But, in an ethnic sense the Turkish Minority is viewed as a possible threat. Although the former Minister of Education and Religious Affairs attempted to change the contents of history books they still imply some prejudiced data against “Turks” and this causes a racist tendency among the majority people. The school children at a very young age are still taught that the eastern neighbour is an enemy. The Turkish Minority of Western Thrace has been isolated for years and had to live in ghettos. It has been felt in every phase of life of the minority, as well as in the education. The Treaty of Lausanne constitutes the legal basis of the Turkish Minority's education system. According to the Lausanne Treaty minority has right to establish its own schools but in practice it is not implemented. Although minority schools are private in a sense, in reality they are under the direct control of state. Furthermore, the right to education in mother tongue is guaranteed with many documents, such as the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (Article 27) and the Convention on the Rights of Child. But, in application in Greece many people could not enjoy this right, for example, the Turks of Rhodos and Kos. Till the beginning of 1970s the Turks of these islands had Turkish courses but in 1974 teaching in Turkish was de facto abolished. Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, There are 194 minority primary schools, two minority secondary and high schools, and two Koranic/Religious schools operating in Western Thrace, but no minority kindergartens, yet. The curriculum in those schools is bilingual, Turkish and Greek. But the low quality of teaching in minority schools leads segregation and social exclusion in the