396) 16 Armenian Schools in Turkey Opens First Semester

ISTANBUL - The new education period has been started. The minority schools also opened the education session. There are 16 Armenian schools with 3219 students and 412 teachers. Many more Armenian students attend the ‘normal’ schools.

 

This year about 454 children were registered to the Armenian kindergartens. 2107 students were registered to the primary and secondary schools. 658 Armenian students were registered to the Armenian high schools.

 

Apart from the normal courses, the Turkish Armenian schools also give Armenian language and Armenian religion courses to their students.

 

Patriarch Mesrop II, religious leader of Turkish Armenians, said that the Armenian language courses and Arme
nian culture courses in these schools are crucial to maintain the existence of Armenian minority in Turkey. The main problem of the Armenian population in Turkey is voluntary ‘assimilation’. Many Armenians do not attend the Armenian Church and Armenian schools. Another problem is the mixed marriages.

 

There are about 100.000 Armenians in Istanbul and they have all the rights to take education in their own schools. Apart from the Armenian schools there are Armenian health institutions, sport clubs and cultural-social organizations. Moreover 3 Armenian newspaper are published in Istanbul.

 

Apart from the Turkish Armenians, more than 50. 000 Armenians come to ıstanbul to work from Armenia.

 

Armenian Schools in Istanbul and Student Numbers:

 

Aramyan: 142 students.
Bezciya: 161 students.
Bomonti Mihtaryan: 40 students.
Kalfayan: 101 students.
Dadyan: 411 students.
Esayan: 313 students.
Getronagan: 211 students.
Karagozyan: 175 students.
Levon Vartuhyan: 123 students.
Ferikoy: 237 students.
Pangalti Mihtaryan: 362 students.
Sahakyan: 400 students.
Samatya Anarat Higutyun: 74 students.
Ortakoy Tarkmancats: 143 students.
Tibrevank: 78 students.
Yesilkoy: 248 students.

 

Turkish Armenians

 

JTW, with Agos and Bolsohays.
23 September 2005.

 

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