ARMENIAN, KURDISH TO BE TAUGHT AT TURKISH UNIVERSITIES

armradio.am
27.11.2008 13:53

Turkish universities offer in-depth knowledge of long-extinct
civilizations of Sumerian, and Hittite culture, but none as yet has
a department devoted to Kurdish and Armenian languages, or Hebrew. A
recent proposal by the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, deputy Osman
Ozcelik to open a department on Kurdish language at Istanbul and Dicle
universities has highlighted this deficit, Hurriyet daily reported.

"If universities make such a proposal, we can discuss the issue with
our friends and do what is necessary," President of Higher Education
Board, or YOK, Yusuf Ziya Ozcan told daily Radikal.

A department on Armenian language and literature is expected to be
launched next year at NevÅ~_ehir University. "At least three professors
who can teach the subject are required before the department is
operational. We are talking with professors in Turkey who wrote about
Armenian literature," NevÅ~_ehir University Rector Filiz Kılıc told
the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review yesterday.

"A department on Armenian literature is a critical subject, and it is
a long due project. Turkey should have had several similar departments
long ago," Kılıc said.

"Classes will necessarily include particularities of the Armenian
language and literature, but the specific content will be written
once the professors start thei r job," she said. "It is not clear
whether the department will be ready for the 2009-2010 academic year,
but we want to start it after adequate preparations," Kılıc said.

NevÅ~_ehir University has departments on Hebrew and literature as well,
but the priority is now in making Armenian language and literature an
operational department, Kılıc said. Greek language and literature
has been taught at Istanbul University since 1983 and in Ankara
University since 1936.

–Boundary_(ID_g7OIAi0h7KBw7rNA8n6yrA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress