16.05.2026 10:40
{"text":"National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin's announcement that the phrase "Sea of Islands" will be used instead of "Aegean Sea" in the curriculum has caused great discomfort in Greece. The Greek press, covering the issue, described the change as "propaganda"."}
Turkish National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin's announcement that the phrase 'Islands Sea' will be used instead of 'Aegean Sea' in the new curriculum has caused unease in Greece. The Greek press interpreted the change as 'propaganda.'
“THERE WAS NO AEGEAN SEA WHEN THE TREATY OF LAUSANNE WAS SIGNED”
Turkish National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin made statements regarding the curriculum revisions under the Turkey Century Education Model. Stating that some concepts in textbooks have been updated to align with the national perspective, Tekin said that the phrase 'Islands Sea' will be used instead of 'Aegean Sea.'
"A CONCEPT THAT ENTERED THE LITERATURE AT GREECE'S REQUEST"
In his statement on the matter, Tekin said, 'There was no Aegean Sea when the Treaty of Lausanne was signed. Why don't they say Aegean Sea in Lausanne? Because the sea's name is Islands Sea. Aegean Sea is a concept that entered the literature after World War II, at the request of Greece.'
GREEK PRESS REACTS TO THE CHANGE
While Tekin's statements sparked widespread debate in Turkey, they also made headlines in the Greek press. The Greek news site Geopolitico carried the development on its front page. The news article used the phrases, 'Scandalous statement from Minister Tekin: There is no Aegean Sea, there is Islands Sea.' The changes in the curriculum were described as 'propaganda' in the article.
OTHER NOTABLE CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM
Under the new regulations of the Ministry of National Education, not only the phrase 'Aegean Sea' was changed. Minister Tekin announced that some historical and geographical concepts have also been revised.
Accordingly, in the curriculum:
- Instead of 'Crusades,' 'Crusader Attacks'
- Instead of 'Age of Discovery,' 'Beginning of Colonialism'
- Instead of 'Central Asia,' 'Turkestan' will be used.
Tekin stated that the changes were prepared with the aim of strengthening national consciousness and placing historical narratives on a more realistic foundation.