Alaton highlights the positive impacts of Gulen schools in Africa

Turkey has begun to take a serious interest in Africa since the mid-2000s, placing Africa within its multi-dimensional and dynamic foreign policy doctrine to diversify economic and political ties. Having gained observer status in the African Union in 2005, Turkey has been acting as a voice for Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at international platforms such as the G20 and Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Ishak Alaton, a prominent Turkish businessman and South Africa’s honourary consul in Istanbul, said “in parallel with the political emergence of Turkey in the continent, the initiatives of civil society, mainly Fethullah Gulen schools, increased the visibility of Turkey by teaching Turkish to African students and drawing a positive image about Turkey. This affective background formed by Gulen schools empowered the networks of Turkish businessmen when visiting African countries.”  in an interview that he gave to SES Turkiye. Read rest of the story

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar: We are happy with Gulen Schools and we also want a university

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar made her first foreign trip to Turkey where she met with Turkish politicians, officials and media representatives. When she was asked why she made her first visit to Turkey she explained: ‘After an earthquake I visited disaster hit area. There were many tents which provided healthcare for victims organized by foreign groups from Europe and Asia. I was surprised to see that lines to some of tents were enormous, while lines to others consisted of two-three people. When I asked why that is, people told me, everyone wants to get help from Turkish tents. Pakistani people trust Turks more than anyone else.’ She told that they have a number of Gulen inspired schools in the country and that Pakistani people are very happy about them because of their high quality education. She expressed her desire to have one Gulen inspired university established in Pakistan too. Read rest of the story

Gulen-Inspired Schools Promote Learning and Service

Two well respected academics, Dr. Jon Pahl ofThe Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Dr. John Raines of Temple University, have penned in an article in response to a piece published in Philadelphia Inquirer a while ago. Unlike the superficial Inquirer article, that poured unfounded allegations against M. Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet movement he inspired, academics’ piece provides a comprehensive understanding about the topic. “These schools have consistently promoted good learning and citizenship, and the Hizmet movement is to date an evidently admirable civil society organization to build bridges between religious communities and to provide direct service on behalf of the common good” state Dr. Pahl and Dr. Raines and argue “a little research by journalists, and readers, will lead to a more nuanced appreciation of this complex and fascinating global movement”.

Please see below the rest of the very well put article. It deserves perusal. Read rest of the story

Schooling vs Education

“Education is different from teaching.” states the M. Fethullah Gulen, and continues: “Most human beings can be teachers but the number of educators is severely limited.”. The difference between the two lies in that both teachers and educators impart information and teach skills, but the educator is one who has the ability to assist the students’ personalities to emerge, who fosters thought and reflection, who builds character and enables the student to interiorize qualities of self-discipline, tolerance, and a sense of mission. Fethullah Gulen describes those who simply teach in order to receive a salary, with no interest in the character formation of the students as “the blind leading the blind.” Read rest of the story