Turkey to stop teaching evolution in high school
Turkish high school students will no longer be taught the theory of evolution.
The subject has been cut from the curriculum under changes made to eliminate "controversial" topics, the head of the national board of education, Alpaslan Durmus, announced in a video address.
"If our students don't have the background, the scientific knowledge, or information to comprehend the debate around controversial issues, we have left them out," Durmus said.
The new curriculum will go into effect for the 2017- 2018 school year.
It was crafted to emphasize national values and highlight contributions made by Turkish and Muslim scholars, Durmus said.
History classes will look beyond "Eurocentrism" and music classes will focus on "all colors of Turkish music," he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan survived a coup attempt last year and solidified his power in April in a referendum that handed him sweeping powers.
Critics view the changes in the education system as another step in the ruling Justice and Development Party's ambitions to make Turkey more conservative.
Erdogan has been vocal about wanting to raise "a pious generation."
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