MEB blocks Eğitim-Sen's ‘Gender Equality’ lecture

11/03/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL

The lesson was targeted with the phrase ‘LGBT propaganda’. ‘The accusatory language of the Ministry of National Education will never be accepted,’ Eğitim-Sen said after the ban.

The ‘Gender Equality’ lecture that the Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim-Sen) was to give in schools today was prevented by the Ministry of National Education (MEB). Eğitim-Sen's lecture had been targeted by the ruling media with the allegation that the blackboards in schools would be painted in different colours and with the phrase ‘LGBT propaganda’.

The Ministry of National Education announced that legal proceedings would be initiated against Eğitim-Sen's lecture, claiming that it was ‘outside the curriculum’, and said, ‘The actions and statements of individuals and institutions that harm the essence of trade union activities by acting against the constitution, laws and social values by claiming to use trade union freedoms will never be tolerated, and the necessary judicial and administrative processes will be carried out.’

Eğitim-Sen made a statement on its social media accounts upon the MEB's statement. The statement reads as follows:

“As Eğitim-Sen, we would like to state that we consider gender equality not only as an academic concept but also as an integral part of international human rights conventions and democratic education. UNESCO, the Council of Europe and many international educational institutions recognise gender equality in education as a fundamental requirement. However, with today's statement, MoNE is trying to portray gender equality as ‘harmful’ or ‘threatening’, displaying an approach that is not based on scientific knowledge.

MEB's threatening and distorting statements against the gender equality courses proposed by Eğitim Sen are based on a perspective that targets gender equality and absolutises traditional gender roles. In fact, first our children and then all areas of social life are targeted by the reactionary policies of the pro-union, religious sects and communities with which they are in alliance.”

Tags: human rights, media, education