MP Denied ALES Entry?! What Happens Next Will Shock You!

Turkish MP Blocked from Taking ALES Exam Despite Presenting Parliamentary ID

MP Denied ALES Entry?! What Happens Next Will Shoc...

In what's being described as a bizarre and potentially unlawful incident, İrfan Karatutlu, a DEVA Party Member of Parliament representing Kahramanmaraş, claims he was prevented from taking the Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam (ALES) this past Sunday. The reason? Exam officials reportedly refused to accept his parliamentary ID as valid identification.

Karatutlu, a medical doctor with advanced degrees who was aiming to pursue a doctorate in Public Administration, is understandably upset. He applied for the ALES exam so he could continue his education, and arrived at Eskişehir Osmangazi University, the designated exam location, fully prepared to test. That's when things apparently went south.

According to Karatutlu, staff at the testing center initially rejected his parliamentary ID, citing Law No. 3671, Annex 1. "I presented my exam entrance document along with my parliamentary ID," Karatutlu explained. "However, the staff member stated that the ID was not valid for entry... I asked for the supervisor, and a professor from Osmangazi University arrived, also stating that I could not enter with the ID." This is where it starts to get a bit ridiculous, in my opinion. I mean, it's a parliamentary ID!

The situation then escalated, with university officials reportedly contacting the ÖSYM (Student Selection and Placement Center) headquarters. Karatutlu alleges they spoke with ÖSYM Deputy Chairman Cengiz Ceylan, who, incredibly, also allegedly rejected the MP's ID. Karatutlu asserts that this decision flew in the face of established law. "Article 1 of Law No. 3671, Annex 1, stipulates that Turkish Grand National Assembly IDs are official identification and valid in all official institutions," he emphasized. How can someone in charge of administering exams be unaware of that?

Karatutlu is understandably frustrated, suggesting a need for better training for those overseeing these exams. He even went so far as to say, "I realized that truly educated individuals should be appointed as building supervisors or provincial supervisors for these exams. Despite the professors' titles, they were unaware of the relevant exam laws. I observed them resisting any attempt to find a solution."

There is some good news, though. Karatutlu has reportedly spoken with the ÖSYM President, who promised to investigate the matter, and with the Rector of Osmangazi University, who apparently acknowledged the error. Karatutlu also intends to raise the issue with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. "The issue here is that a Member of Parliament's exam attempt was disrupted due to impulsive behavior..." he stated. Hopefully, this situation will be resolved quickly, and hopefully, those responsible will be held accountable. It’s definitely a story worth keeping an eye on.