Gulen schools: "philanthropy" and "self-sacrifice"....for up to $29,737 per year
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Page created Sep 2011; Last updated October 1, 2011
The terms "philanthropy" and "self-sacrifice" are often used in writings on Gulen schools, particularly those produced by Gulenist supporters or sympathizers.
For example, a student at Monash University in Australia is currently preparing a thesis entitled "A comparative study of the educational philanthropy of the Gulen Movement with other faith-based educational philanthropy: Gulen inspired schools as social business enterprises."
A March 14, 2008 article in Today's Zaman, the flagship newspaper of the Gulen Movement, quoted Sister Anne Munley, president of Pennsylvania's Marywood University, as follows: "'Turkish people establish schools all across the world and show great self-sacrifice in educating people of all races and religions. The Gulen movement considerably contributes to the establishment of these schools,' noted Munley." The article goes on to quote Thomas Michel (who has attended many Gulen conferences) as saying about the Gulen Movement: "It has reached millions of children all across the world and helped with their education regardless of their races, languages, religions and nationalities. This is a great self-sacrifice and success."
A BBC article of May 24, 2011 entitled What is Islam's Gulen movement? stated that "The combination of philanthropy and business has been powerful, he says, with Gulen-inspired schools supporting and smoothing the way for Turkish businessmen in emerging markets like Africa and Central Asia."
An examination of tuition costs at Gulen schools (see below) compared to the per capita income of the countries they are located in, suggests that these schools are far more about business than "philanthropy." Indeed, this was confirmed in a recent post made by Zaman columnist Mustafa Akyol on Twitter in response to questioning regarding a 49-year contract for educational services Turkey signed with Somalia. Akyol stated "It is only rational for any business to ask for a foreseeable stability for their investment."
Bilal Wahab of George Mason University gives the following strange rationalization for why Gulen schools provide "hope" in Iraq, a country with an annual per capita income of only $3800, despite charging steep fees: "One of the examples of hope in Iraq is the social entrepreneurship; a school that was sponsored by Hizmet (a.k.a the Gulen Movement) in 1994. It was a free high school at first but it has built a reputation for itself, graduated smart students and after that it started charging people for money. They say, 'We can educate your kids. We can teach them English, Turkish, math and science. And these students can participate International Scientific Olympics and they come back with prizes. So they’ve become marketable. Once they become marketable people pay a lot of money to go to that school. But that money is being used to build another school in another town. So, this process of mushrooming without being dependent on anyone has created a positive effect on other Civil Society Organizations." (It is parenthetically noted that George Mason University has produced a number of Gulen apologists, and, interestingly, was also the recipient in 2009 of a $4 million donation from a Turkish businessman.)
The system Wahab mentions, of initially providing education for free or at low rates and then raising charges substantially, may perhaps explain the 2008 New York Times article on Gulen schools in Pakistan, which subtly suggested that the PakTurk schools were accessible to poor Pakistanis by introducing them with the following lines: "The poorest Pakistanis cannot afford to send their children to public schools, which are free but require fees for books and uniforms." "The Turkish school is in a poor neighborhood in the south of the city..." "Still, his [Gulen's] schools are richly supported by Turkish businessmen." The fact is, at present, the PakTurk schools that were the subject of this article also require fees for books and uniforms, on top of the already considerable tuition and registration fees (see below).
Gulenists appear to have convinced quite a few journalists, authors and researchers that Turkish businessmen are "supporting" the Gulen schools. However, providing the initial capital for a business that then goes on to generate substantial revenue should not be viewed as "support" in a charitable sense. It is called "investment," the very word that Akyol himself used. It appears that once again, the Gulenist twin tactics of strategic ambiguity and secretive collusion may be at play to hide self-interested motives behind a facade depicting selfless "service to mankind."
Examples of tuition and fees in Gulen schools compared to per capita income in their countries
Drujba School, Sofia, Bulgaria
Cost: 2000 Euros/year (without boarding)
Source: school website, accessed August 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Euro = 1.41 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $2820
Bulgaria per capita income: $13,500
Cost as percent of per capita income: 21%
Dushanbe International School, Tajikistan
Cost: $9,000 (US) per year for high school plus $100 application fee
Source: school website, page dated Dec 8, 2009, accessed July 2011
Annual cost in US dollars: $9100
Tajikistan per capita income: $2000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 455%
Educactive School, Paris, France
Cost: 4,500 Euros per year
Source: Le Monde news article, 2009
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Euro = 1.41 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $6345
France per capita income: $33,100
Cost as percent of per capita income: 19%
Horizon Japan International School, Japan
Cost per year: 620,000 Y (fees) + 1,650,000 Y (tuition)
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Japanese yen = 0.0131 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $29,737
Japan per capita income: $34,000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 87%
Isik College, Australia
Annual fee (high school): $4770 Australian dollars
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Australian dollar = 0.9823 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $4686 (+ additional fees)
Australia per capita income: $41,000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 11%
Light Academy, Uganda
Annual cost: 1,340,000 Ugandan shillings (includes uniform)
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Ugandan shilling = 0.000347 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $465
Uganda per capita income: $1300
Cost as percent of per capita income: 36%
Meridian International School, Czech Republic
Cost per year (tuition): 150,000 Czech korunas
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Czech koruna = 0.0546 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $8190
Czech Republic per capita income: $25,600
Cost as percent of per capita income: 32%
PakTurk Schools, Pakistan
Onetime admission fee: 21000 rupees
A level (high school) tuition per month: 17000 rupees
Annual fee: 6000 rupees
Security fee: 10000 rupees
Total annual cost (excluding books & uniform) 241,000 rupees
Source: school website, accessed Sep 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Pakistani rupee - 0.0114 $US
Annual cost in US dollars: $2747
Pakistan per capita income: $2500
Cost as percent of per capita income: 110%
Rainbow International School, South Korea
Tuition cost per year: 14,000,000 Won + US$3000 (excluding bus, lunch)
Fees per year: 5,200,000 Won
Source: school website, accessed Sep 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 South Korean won = 0.00085 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $19,320
South Korea per capita income: $30,000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 64%
Siriwat Wittaya Bilingual School, Thailand
Admission fee: 10,000
Tuition: 30,000 per semester
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Thai Baht = 0.0334225 US dollar
Annual cost in US dollars: $2340 (assuming 2 semesters/year)
Thailand per capita income: US $2000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 117%
Star College, Durban, South Africa
Fees: 31000 Rand per year 17500 Rand dormitory + one-time registration fee 2000 Rand
Source: school website accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 South African Rand = 0.1217 US dollar
Annual cost in US dollars: $5902
South Africa per capita income: $10,700
Cost as percent of per capita income: 55%
Willow International School, Mozambique
Annual cost grades 10-12: 149,000 Mozambican Meticals
Source: School website (accessed Sep 2011)
Exchange rate: 1.00 Mozambican Metical (MZN) = 0.0378788 USD
Annual cost in US dollars: $5644
Mozambique per capita income: $1000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 564%
Zaman International School, Cambodia
Cost per year: $350 (registration fee) + $500 (enrollment fee) + $2550 (tuition) = US $3400
Source: school website (accessed Aug 2011)
Cambodia per capita income: $2100
Cost as percent of per capita income: 162%
Drujba School, Sofia, Bulgaria
Cost: 2000 Euros/year (without boarding)
Source: school website, accessed August 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Euro = 1.41 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $2820
Bulgaria per capita income: $13,500
Cost as percent of per capita income: 21%
Dushanbe International School, Tajikistan
Cost: $9,000 (US) per year for high school plus $100 application fee
Source: school website, page dated Dec 8, 2009, accessed July 2011
Annual cost in US dollars: $9100
Tajikistan per capita income: $2000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 455%
Educactive School, Paris, France
Cost: 4,500 Euros per year
Source: Le Monde news article, 2009
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Euro = 1.41 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $6345
France per capita income: $33,100
Cost as percent of per capita income: 19%
Horizon Japan International School, Japan
Cost per year: 620,000 Y (fees) + 1,650,000 Y (tuition)
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Japanese yen = 0.0131 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $29,737
Japan per capita income: $34,000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 87%
Isik College, Australia
Annual fee (high school): $4770 Australian dollars
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Australian dollar = 0.9823 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $4686 (+ additional fees)
Australia per capita income: $41,000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 11%
Light Academy, Uganda
Annual cost: 1,340,000 Ugandan shillings (includes uniform)
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Ugandan shilling = 0.000347 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $465
Uganda per capita income: $1300
Cost as percent of per capita income: 36%
Meridian International School, Czech Republic
Cost per year (tuition): 150,000 Czech korunas
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Czech koruna = 0.0546 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $8190
Czech Republic per capita income: $25,600
Cost as percent of per capita income: 32%
PakTurk Schools, Pakistan
Onetime admission fee: 21000 rupees
A level (high school) tuition per month: 17000 rupees
Annual fee: 6000 rupees
Security fee: 10000 rupees
Total annual cost (excluding books & uniform) 241,000 rupees
Source: school website, accessed Sep 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Pakistani rupee - 0.0114 $US
Annual cost in US dollars: $2747
Pakistan per capita income: $2500
Cost as percent of per capita income: 110%
Rainbow International School, South Korea
Tuition cost per year: 14,000,000 Won + US$3000 (excluding bus, lunch)
Fees per year: 5,200,000 Won
Source: school website, accessed Sep 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 South Korean won = 0.00085 US dollars
Annual cost in US dollars: $19,320
South Korea per capita income: $30,000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 64%
Siriwat Wittaya Bilingual School, Thailand
Admission fee: 10,000
Tuition: 30,000 per semester
Source: school website, accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 Thai Baht = 0.0334225 US dollar
Annual cost in US dollars: $2340 (assuming 2 semesters/year)
Thailand per capita income: US $2000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 117%
Star College, Durban, South Africa
Fees: 31000 Rand per year 17500 Rand dormitory + one-time registration fee 2000 Rand
Source: school website accessed Aug 2011
Exchange rate (Sep 2011): 1 South African Rand = 0.1217 US dollar
Annual cost in US dollars: $5902
South Africa per capita income: $10,700
Cost as percent of per capita income: 55%
Willow International School, Mozambique
Annual cost grades 10-12: 149,000 Mozambican Meticals
Source: School website (accessed Sep 2011)
Exchange rate: 1.00 Mozambican Metical (MZN) = 0.0378788 USD
Annual cost in US dollars: $5644
Mozambique per capita income: $1000
Cost as percent of per capita income: 564%
Zaman International School, Cambodia
Cost per year: $350 (registration fee) + $500 (enrollment fee) + $2550 (tuition) = US $3400
Source: school website (accessed Aug 2011)
Cambodia per capita income: $2100
Cost as percent of per capita income: 162%
The above costs (except when noted) were for high school students, and did not include the price of the compulsory uniforms, which must be purchased from the school. In addition, in some Gulen schools, extracurricular activities such as tutoring, excursions or even camps are obligatory for some or all students, and there are associated fees.
Some students get scholarships which offer discounts on tuition, but it is highly questionable whether even that should be regarded as "philanthropy." The scholarships are given only to the highest-performing students among those whose parents cannot afford the cost. These students pay the school in another currency - they win awards, helping establish the schools' reputation, so that the parents who can pay the hefty fees are attracted to the school. After graduation, a select group of these students are recruited to go forth and teach in other Gulen schools. As the Gulen Movement made their education possible, they feel an obligation to repay with service to the Movement (cf. Aydin Ozipek's 2009 thesis, Central European University).
The source for per capita income (i.e., GDP per capita) was the CIA World Factbook, accessed Sep 2011.
Some math regarding the "water for the mill"
Helen Rose Ebaugh has argued that the funding for the Gulen Movement's projects comes from donations from its members. In her book "The Gulen movement: a sociological analysis of a civic movement rooted in moderate Islam," she states that "many very wealthy businessmen contribute 10-50% of their yearly income to the movement projects..." (Recall that as evidenced from Stephanie Saul's June 2011 New York Times article, some of these businessmen are also deriving part of their wealth from the Gulen schools.)
In an article entitled "Funding Gulen-Inspired Good Works: Demonstrating and Generating Commitment to the Movement" from Oct 2007, Helen Rose Ebaugh and Dogan Koc wrote that "Based on the scant literature that exists on the funding of Gulen-inspired projects and our own interviews conducted with members of the Gulen Movement both in Turkey and in Houston, Texas, it is evident that the money behind the movement is provided by millions of people the world over who are committed to the ideas and ideals promoted by Gulen."
On the other hand, consider that if there are 1500 Gulen schools worldwide (as the website of the Fountain International School in the Philippines asserts), and each school has, say, 500 students, and the typical profit from the tuition of each of these students is $1000 (likely an underestimate, in view of the fees listed above) then the total worldwide annual profit would be
1500 * 500 * $1000 = $750,000,000