The educational perspective of Gulen is the illumination of the mind to science and knowledge, and the lighting of the heart in faith and virtue. This can be accomplished though teachers who are committed to devoting their lives, time and knowledge to teach the younger generations in these educational institutions.
The recent findings are speaking about the extraordinary achievement Gulen-inspired schools demonstrated so far. There are currently more than 1000 Gulen-inspired schools in more than 110 countries around the world. In the European countries, there are at least a dozen Gulen-inspired schools, and more than 150 smaller educational and cultural centers. Generally, Gulen-inspired schools are low fee schools due to the limited wealth of supporters of these educational projects . Students of these educational initiatives have come first in national and international intellectual competitions and olympiads.
Gulen states that a good school is not only a building where students learn theoretical information, but also an institution or a laboratory in which students are to be prepared for life by educators.
While some governments and donors have been straggling to reach their education goals, Gulen inspired schools all over the world have been demonstrating an unprecedented growth and success. Gulen-inspired schools, both in their originating country Turkey and abroad, have attracted the attention of scholars due to their continuous academic accomplishments and emphasis on universal ethical values. The provision of quality educational service is evident not only in less developed countries, but also in advanced economies which have an internationally comparable advantage in supplying high standards of education.
The educational perspective of Fethullah Gulen is the illumination of the mind to science and knowledge, and the lighting of the heart in faith and virtue. This can be accomplished though teachers who are committed to devoting their lives, time and knowledge to teach the younger generations in these educational institutions. The high standard of education offered at Gulen-inspired schools is a key factor in parental choice. To Fethullah Gulen, the schools are to promote respect for other cultures and views. Thus, students in Gulen-inspired schools gain an appreciation of other faiths and cultures as well as their own, in order to harmonise the global modern values with their local cultural traditions.
According to Fethullah Gulen’s teaching, quantity should not receive too much attention, sometimes to guide one man to the truth may be as pleasing to God as guiding a thousand. Moreover sincerity and adherence to the truth require that one should desire the Muslims to benefit from anyone and at any place they can. To think Let them take lessons from me so that I gain the reward is a trick of the soul and the ego. In Fethullah Gulen’s teaching man of truth should overlook each others faults, shortcomings and concentrate his own failures, mistakes and lost opportunities to please God.
Published on fethullah-gulen.net, 19 November 2012, Monday
