Hertneck said the measure will improve interaction between the state citizens and the large Turkish community

By Khaled Schmitt, IOL Correspondent

BERLIN, January 8 (IslamOnline.net) – The German state of Baden-Württemberg decided Wednesday, January 7, to introduce Turkish as an optional language in all schools, effective as of the coming school year.

The decision preceded a landmark visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, slated for Thursday, January 8.

The Islam.de website quoted Baden-Württemberg Justice Minister Corinna Werwigk-Hertneck as welcoming the decision as a measure that will increase options available for students to study foreign languages.

Hertneck, also the foreigners affairs commissioner, told a press conference in Stuttgart Wednesday that teaching Turkish will further improve interaction between Baden-Württemberg citizens and the large Turkish community.

She even suggested introducing the Turkish language to all state schools, and not only schools hosting an increasing number of foreign students.

German educational experts said the new measure will help Turkish students overcome serious problems learning their mother tongue.

Official statistics released by Baden-Württemberg education department put at 29,342 the number of Turkish primary schools students in the school year of 2002/2003.

Varied Reactions

Dahlem said priority should be given to English and French not Turkish

Meanwhile, the decision triggered varied reactions among Baden-Württemberg education unions.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the education association welcomed the measure.

It, however, called for focusing on the teaching of the German language to help foreign students better integrate into the society.

For his part, Rainer Dahlem, head of the science and education association, criticized the decision, saying priority should be accorded to English and French.

Baden-Württemberg decision will be a nice welcoming gesture to Erdogan when he flies into Germany Thursday to attend two cultural events organized by the German cultural institution, Bertelsmann, and the European Academy in Berlin.

The Turkish guest will also attend a conference of the Turkish businessmen and industrialists union (TÜSIAD) in the capital.