Turkey considering gender segregation in higher education

In a move interpreted as reflecting a return to conservative Islam, the Turkish government is looking at implementing more gender segregated higher education institutions. Educators in Turkey have expressed alarm that government officials have met with educators in Japan to look at segregated gender education that has been in place there since the 19th century. Comparing 19th century Japan, when gender segregated institutions were introduced to expand educational opportunity for women, and the environment of 21st century Turkey raises the question of the appropriateness of policy transfer in education across cultures and centuries.