Different Test Questions Announced for Minority Students

Education Minister Ömer Dinçer announced in a press conference today that the ministry have envisioned a different set of questions for minority students at university entrance exam, which will test entrants' general knowledge on Islam by next year.

Reminding that classes teaching basic principles of Islam--under the title "religion culture and morality"--were mandatory at public schools in Turkey, Dinçer said all students (except minorities) were required to enroll in this class since 1980s.

"A similar practice is also valid in high school entrance exams. Test questions on national security are excluded from minorities," Dinçer said. "We will test minority student's knowledge with alternative topics from the curriculum.

Addressing questions on alternative test questions, Dinçer said Turkey's high education test center and high education council would be responsible for the selection. "I am assuming that they will prepare the alternative questions after considering minority students' education background and current curriculum."

An estimate of 4-5 questions on religion were announced to appear on the upcoming university entrance exam in June 2013.

"There will certainly be questions on religion culture and morality but the number won't exceed 4-5, according to what high education test center and high education council informed me," Dinçer said in the press conference. (YY)