Türkiye to replace 'Central Asia' term with 'Turkestan' in education curriculum

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed his support for the changes, emphasizing Türkiye's commitment to fostering unity among Turkic nations. “We will work shoulder to shoulder to make the coming era a Turkic era. We will apply our vision of a Turkic century to the Organization of Turkic States and bring it to fruition,” Erdoğan stated.

The historical significance of the term "Turkestan" has been supported by Turkish scholars, including Professor Ahmet Taşağıl, who explained that the word has long been used to refer to the "homeland of the Turks." He noted, “Since ancient times, the term ‘Turkestan’ has been used to describe the land of the Turks. In the second half of the 19th century, with the Russian invasion, the term ‘Central Asia’ became widespread, replacing Turkestan.”

Associate Professor Ramin Sadiq also endorsed the decision, saying, “Referring to the concept of Turkestan and incorporating it into the Ministry of Education's textbooks is the right decision. Both Türkiye and Turkestan signify regions predominantly inhabited by Turks.”

Experts have highlighted that this shift is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties within the Turkic world. This initiative includes the development of shared history, literature, maps, and a common alphabet among Turkic nations.