Turkish Education Day of the Turks of North Macedonia

The Turkish Language Education Day of the Turks of North Macedonia is an official and national holiday that serves as a tangible manifestation of the Turkish community’s rights to language, culture, and identity. This special day, celebrated annually on 21 December, is also known as Turkish Language Day. The foundation of this holiday lies in the historic event that granted the Turks of North Macedonia the right to receive education in their mother tongue.

Historical Development and Achievement

The attainment of the right to education in the mother tongue by the Turks of North Macedonia is understood within the context of political changes in the Balkans following the Second World War. The process began with the establishment of Democratic Federal Yugoslavia in 1943, and continued with the formation of the People’s Republic of Macedonia within the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia on 16 April 1945, marking the beginning of a new era for ethnic groups in the region.^【1】 During this period, constitutional provisions of the republic granted all peoples living in the country the right to education and instruction in their mother tongues.

In the early 21st century, the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001 was signed, recognized as a turning point for the protection and advancement of minority rights in the country. Under this agreement, the educational rights of the Turkish community were legally safeguarded; however, the implemented reforms encountered practical challenges, particularly in Eastern Macedonia.^【2】 Subsequently, reforms introduced in 2008 with the transition to compulsory secondary education and within the framework of European Union alignment brought new developments to Turkish-language education. Despite these positive advances, fundamental obstacles such as economic inadequacies, lack of political will, teacher shortages, and the need for modern teaching materials have remained the primary challenges facing Turkish-language education.^【3】 Support and educational cooperation from the Republic of Türkiye have contributed significantly to overcoming these difficulties. Thanks to this support, the quality of Turkish-language education has improved through the development of digital educational materials, modern pedagogical methods, and updated curricula.

Within this legal framework, the Turks of Macedonia began using Turkish as taught in Türkiye and the Latin alphabet in schools. 21 December 1944 is regarded as the symbolic date when Turkish-language education in the Latin alphabet was first implemented in the capital Skopje, marking the formal achievement of this right.^【4】 Following this educational advancement, various institutions and media outlets emerged, including Turkish-language schools, Turkish radio and television broadcasts, Turkish theatre, and Turkish-language newspapers and periodicals published for children and adults. Initially, the Turkish Language Education Day was commemorated locally; beginning in 1993, it has been officially celebrated under the name Turkish Language Day.

Official Status and Political Dimension

The recognition of this day as an official national holiday resulted from political initiatives within the Assembly of North Macedonia. The proposal to designate 21 December as an official and national holiday was submitted by Dr. Kenan Hasip, President of the Democratic Party of Turks and Member of Parliament, along with MP Hadi Nezir. In February 2007, amendments to the “Holidays Law” formally recognized 21 December as the national holiday of the Turks of North Macedonia and declared it an official public holiday.^【5】

Nevertheless, political representatives of the Turkish community in North Macedonia highlight the ongoing challenges despite the achievement of educational rights. North Macedonian MP Salih Murat stated that the Turkish population has long been subjected to assimilation policies targeting language and identity, and that Turks have been excluded from services and opportunities provided by the government. Murat asserted that governments have “kept us outside the system through unlawful and unconstitutional means under the pretext that we are not sufficiently integrated.”^【6】

Structure of Turkish Language Education and Turkological Institutions

The attainment of the right to Turkish-language education has laid the groundwork for the cultural and academic development of the Turks of Macedonia. Today, Turkish-language instruction is officially conducted in 134 primary schools and 11 state secondary schools. Higher education and Turkological research are concentrated in four state faculties and other institutions.

Currently, Turkish-language instruction continues officially in 134 primary schools and 11 state secondary schools. Turkological studies are primarily centered at three major state universities: the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Philology of St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Philology of Goce Delčev University in Štip, and the Department of Oriental Studies at the State University of Tetovo. Additional academic activities are carried out at institutions such as the Faculty of Pedagogy of St. Clement of Ohrid at St. Cyril and Methodius University and the private International Balkan University. Supporting institutions like the Marko Čepenkov Institute of Folklore and the National Institute of History conduct research on Turkish folklore and history.^【7】

Turkish literature in Macedonia is represented by the following authors: Hüseyin Süleyman, Abdülfettah Rauf, Enver Tuzcu, Şükrü Ramo, Mustafa Karahasan, Hümaşah Vardar, Lütfi Seyfullah, Necati Zekeriya, Şerafettin Nebi, Mahmut Kıratlı, Fahri Kaya, İlhami Emin, Recep Murat Bugariç, Esad Bayram, Cavit Saraç, Avni Engüllü, Fahri Ali, Sebahattin Sezair, Halise Hasan Özgün, Avni Abdullah, Mustafa Yaşar, Alaettin Tahir, Yusuf Edip, Melahat Engüllü, Suat Engüllü, İrfan Bellur, Enver İlyaz, Enver Ahmet, Halise Hasan Özgün, Nusret Dişo Ülkü, Sabit Yusuf, Biba İsmail, Semra Samet, Tülay İbrahim, Oktay Ahmed, Meral Kayın, Rıfat Emin, Leyla Hüseyin, Bennu Musli, Arzu Abdullah, Mehmed Arif, Gülden Ruşit, Bekir Abdi, Derya Ruşan, Zeynep Hüseyin, Rabie Ruşid, Sezen Seyfullah, Zeynep Arifi, Sema Ali Erol.^【8】

Celebration Activities

The Turkish Language Education Day of the Turks of North Macedonia is enthusiastically celebrated across various regions of the country through a wide range of events. Central ceremonies are typically held in the capital Skopje, with participation from the highest levels of government, including the President and Prime Minister of the country.

Celebration programs include concerts, seminars, panels, and various cultural activities. Balkan folk dances reflecting the region’s cultural heritage are performed, and banquets are organized. Official delegations from Türkiye, including delegations at the level of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, participate as guests. Additionally, concerts by popular artists form part of the celebration program.

The Macedonian Turkish Civil Society Organizations Union (MATÜSİTEB), the umbrella organization for approximately 60 Turkish civil society organizations operating in North Macedonia, plays an active role in organizing these celebrations and frequently receives support from TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency). This national holiday is also commemorated and celebrated in cities in Türkiye, such as Edirne, where large populations of Balkan-origin Turks reside.^【9】