A contest jointly held every year in math and science by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Ministry of Education will not be held this academic year, the Ministry of Education has announced.
In a statement sent to provincial directorates for education the ministry said the protocol for the science and math fair, which has been held for 10 years, has ended.
“The BBE [Bu benim eserim (This is my work)] project has been ended for certain and will not be held this year. Teachers who make preparations or exercises according to the schedule of the contests held in previous years need no longer do that. Please inform the teachers and students in your province concerning this matter,” the statement said.
Private schools inspired by the Gülen movement, a faith-based social movement which derives its inspiration from the teachings of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, have been targeted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and government circles since Dec. 17, 2013, when a massive corruption and bribery scandal became public.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the Gülen movement of plotting to overthrow his government. The contest has allegedly been canceled because students from these schools usually win awards at this science and math fair.
