Mayor Proposes Integration Channel For Germany's Turks

Bremen Mayor Henning Scherf on Thursday suggested producing television programming to help Turks -- the largest foreign minority in Germany -- to adapt to German society. Scherf said the programming could be produced at a cost of around €20 to €25 million. He suggested it could be aired initially on German state television for two or three hours a day and extended if it proved a success. Scherf said that the initiative, besides helping integrate the 2.1 million-strong Turkish community in Germany, would also play an important role in supporting state-backed integration efforts as the country gets ready to adopt a new immigration law. Referring to studies that have shown that children from immigrant families often perform poorly in school, Scherf said the programming could be a mix of entertainment and education and include practical tips on the health and school system.