The History of Laicism in Turkish Educational History

Abstract

The education based upon mores in Turk communities of Middle Asia, started to
become institutionalized with the adoption of Islam. However, the religious content in education was
intensified during the institutionalization of the scholar system. No significant development took place
with regards to the secularization of education until the renovation period in the Ottoman Empire.
With the renovation acts, a duality was started with the co-existence of schools giving education with
modern techniques and giving religious education .This dual practice came to an end with Unification
of Education Law in the Republic period. With 1982 Constitution, which made the –previously
selective- Religious Culture and Ethics courses obligatory.