With the financial support of the European Union and through the German Development Bank, 100 Million Euro Budget Contracts were signed fort he Project on Education for All in Times of Crisis III which is implemented by the Department of Construction and Real Estate of MoNE.

Deputy Minister of National Education Mr. Mustafa SAFRAN, Head of European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Mr. Christian BERGER, German Development Bank (KfW) Member of Management Committee for Europe and Asia Mr. Stephan OPITZ and Head of Construction and Real Estate Department of MoNE Mr. Umut GÜR are attended to the signing ceremony held in the Ministry of National Education.

Deputy Minister Mustafa SAFRAN started his speech at the ceremony by expressing his pleasure to be together at the signing ceremony of this brand new project which is expected to make a significant contribution to the strengthening of our educational infrastructure and focused on innovative school designs and pre-school education.

Mr. SAFRAN stated that “the signing of Education for All in Times of Crisis III Project will be considered a new step in cooperation between EU – Turkey and 180 new schools and 1 public education center will be added to ongoing 220 schools construction within the projects”.

Deputy Minister Mustafa SAFRAN said “170 of 180 new schools are planned as pre-school facilities and the remaining 10 are planned as primary or secondary schools. With the commencement of the Education for All in Times of Crisis III Project, the total value of the educational infrastructure projects carried out by our Construction and Real Estate Department has increased to 575 million Euros. The number of schools built through these projects will be increased from 220 to 401 and the number of students covered will be increased from 160 thousand to 190 thousand.”

Within the scope of the Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects, Mahzar PİRAL, who worked as a blacksmith at the Adana Çukurova construction site, never stopped his reading habit, which he described as “my only addiction in life”. For PİRAL, who could not continue his education after secondary school due to financial difficulties and living conditions, reading is an activity that opens the door to a completely different world.

59-year-old Mazhar PİRAL, who spent most of his life as a Pastry Master, had to give up his pastry profession after an illness and switched to the blacksmithing, his father’s profession.

PİRAL, who has been a blacksmith for about 10 years emphasized that everyone in the construction site is trying to get children to new school.

He stated that; “In this life, there is nothing as beautiful as reading. When you want to learn something, you’ll do it by reading, but by no one’s teaching. You will create your own basis. No one can teach you the thing that you learned by reading. Even if a thousand people say something, you will believe what you read” and continued, “Things that you read will stay in your mind forever. Reading is beneficial in every way.”

 

 

 

60 of 163 schools built under the Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects were designed as prefabricated (steel construction) schools.

10 of the 60 prefabricated schools built were planned in the camp areas created after the Syrian migration. Prefabricated schools, which are preferred for emergency response to the crisis, can be built in as short as 4 months. Thanks to our prefabricated schools, many of our children in the camps had the opportunity to continue their education.

Adana was one of the provinces most affected by the migration wave that started with the Syrian crisis. The Saricam Camp Area, established in Adana, currently houses approximately 35,000 Syrian refugees under Temporary Protection. With the construction of 2 prefabricated schools with 23 classrooms built in this region for 1 year, the school road was opened for the children living in the camp.

 

There are 57 schools are being built within the scope of Education Infrastructure for Resilience Project, implementing by MoNE Construction and Real Estate Department through The World Bank with EU financial support.

One of these schools is the “Science and Art Center” which is the first as building in Kilis.

Science and Art Center; It is an educational facility designed to develop individuals who will develop their creativity, their ability to find different approaches and solutions to problems and prepare them for the conditions in their adulthood.

This institution, which will serve many students in different fields of science and art, aims to provide appropriate standards to its students with its laboratories, studios, and specifically designed rooms.

The works for the opening of the Science and Art Center in Kilis’s Şıhabdullah Neighborhood in the 2019-2020 academic year continue in full swing.

Within the scope of PIKTES project , International migration and education conference organised in Istanbul on 18-19 April 2019.

International Migration and Education Conference was organized in Istanbul on April 18-19, 2019.  More than 300 experts from 14 countries participated in our conference.

 A large number of scientific researches were shared with participants about migration and education concepts around the world.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Deputy Minister of National Education  Reha DENEMEÇ;  He stated that the project was instrumental in keeping Syrian children in their schools and families in the society.

 Reha DENEMEÇ stated that the schooling rate in secondary and high school age groups is 55 percent and 24 percent, respectively, and there are about 390 thousand children who are still not reached in this group.

On the 2nd day of the conference, Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, Head of Construction Works Department of the Ministry of Education, transferred all the concrete outputs of the Education Infrastructure for Resilience and Clean Energy Projects to everyone.  Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, showing all the stages of the projects starting from the starting point, also expressed the reflections of the projects.

In his speech;  Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ touched upon issues such as project investment amounts, implementation provinces, environment and social management framework, occupational health and safety, needs met rates, implementation calendars and processes.

 The closing event, which included poetry performances and folk dances, ended with the presentation of the International Conference on Migration and Education.

10th of Local Information meetings of the Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects executed by the Construction and Real Estate Department via the German Development Bank (KfW) with the European Facility was conducted in Gaziantep.

Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Ministry of National Education Construction and Real Estate Department, Mr. Cengiz METE, Gaziantep Provincial Director of National Education, Mrs. Corinno KOHL, Project Director from the German Development Bank (KfW), Mr. Halil UYUMAZ, Deputy Governor of Gaziantep, large number of local administrators and Project Implementation Unit participated in the meeting.

Mr. Özcan DUMAN got the floor to deliver his speech and started his speech by stating that millions of refugees have been provided the temporary protection status by Turkey and all kinds of vital needs of refugees have been tried to be addressed. Mr. Duman told that “Approx. 1,1 million of Syrians are school-aged and our ministry together with all other partners work for integrating the Syrian children in education system rapidly. Within this scope, we envisaged that 22 educational facilities in total will be constructed in Gaziantep. So far, 13 of these Works have been tendered out”.

Mr. Özcan DUMAN mentioned about the status of the school in his speech and told that “there are some schools whose opening meeting has been conducted and some investments whose construction works are continued. As the remaining Works are covered by the additional funds the tender Works are continued. These schools will be operation in 2019-2020 education year unless something goes wrong”.

Mr. Duman told that “we will provide an additional capacity for 15 thousand students in total with the classroom to be constructed in Gaziantep and children in this city together with the Syrian children will benefit from these schools. We do not only construct an empty physical building but also we meet all kinds of equipment of schools from the Project” and left the rostrum.

 

“Beginning from the next year, Syrian children will share with our children the same desk, classroom and school”

Mr. Cengiz METE got the floor to deliver his speech. Mr. METE started his speech that Gaziantep has undertaken very important responsibilities since the beginning of the Syrian migration which we call as crisis. Gaziantep is a very important city which has hosted about 450 thousand Syrian and provided services in various area for them. We conduct the educational practices with having no problem with 70 thousand Syrian population and solving the social adaptation issue”.

Mr. METE told that “From the beginning of the next year Syrian children will share with our children the same desk, classroom and school. It has certainly some burdens and our government has performed very important Works for it and our ministry has delivered very important services. However, I want to express that the taken measures and support by the German Development Bank and European Union especially for enhancing the physical capacity are very important”. He ended his speech that “I think that this support should be continued increasingly for providing a more sustainable service.  We are one of the provinces requiring to enhance the physical capacity. I express that we are open to every kind of support and fund”. 

 

“The work which has been undertaken by Turkey is based on the determination and support of the regions and local communities”

Mrs. Corinno KOHL, Project Director from the German Development Bank (KfW) went up to the rostrum and told that “Turkey has the highest number refugees including over 3,5 million Syrian ones and other nationalities. Turkey has made great effort to meet the needs of refugees together with the Turkish community and integrate them in society. The work which has been undertaken by Turkey is based on the determination and support of the regions and local communities.

Mrs.KOHL continued her speech that “the European Union is determined to support the high level goal and mission of Turkey to provide education for all children in Turkey. Within this context, in line with the assignment given by the European Union the German Development Bank performs the construction of the education infrastructure with a budget in the amount of 3,5 million Euro with the Ministry of National Education. 150 school will be constructed with the provided fund. Thus, approx. 100 thousand Turkish and Syrian student will be provided a safer education environment. The Project does not only aim to construct school but also ensure the integration of Syrian children in Turkish society and create environments enabling the mutual learning. We hope that a responsible, open-hearted and sincere generation will be grown up and the works today will be undertaken and continued by this generation”.

 

“One of the most important threat for all is ignorance and remedy for the ignorance is education”

Mr.Halil UYUMAZ; Deputy Governor of Gaziantep emphasized on the importance of education and told that “Education is very important but it is more important in times of crisis. As all you know, one of the most important threat for all is ignorance and remedy for this ignorance is education”.

Mr. UYMAZ mentioned about the school-aged Syrian in Gaziantep and told that “There are 70 thousand Syrian in Gaziantep. These students have not experienced ordinary events. As I have been assigned in Hatay and İstanbul before I remember most of them. Some of these children have lost either their mother or father, some have been left alone, some have been ill or mentally depressed and some do not have a family anymore. As the Government of Turkey, we embrace these children”. He conveyed that they have reached to 70 thousand students by means of works conducted in a few years. 

Mr. UYMAZ continued his speech that “We have accepted 70 thousand students, our Syrian brothers, as our own children and provided education. We are glad to do that. Let’s consider that what could happen if we have not provided education for 70 thousand students? Education is really important. It may not be witnessed almost in nowhere in the World we provided education to some of these students in the temporary education centers, the other part in the morning or afternoon depending on the school status in the same quality. Mr. UYMAZ told that “Some families do not send children to school especially at high school level in school for economic reasons. Syrian children face with the same situation. They tell that we desire work, they are trained in various occupation and develop themselves. For this purpose, registering 70 thousand of 90 thousand students is not a failure with only our effort. We have reached the percentage of almost %100 in the campsite now and we have registered all of the school-aged students in education”.

Mr. UYUMAZ underlined another point and ended his speech that “We continue to provide education in Erbab which is a security zone and central for the World. We not only provide shelter, security and health services but also education. Our fellows work very hard and I want to thank very much all of them

 

Education Year Opening Ceremony was conducted under the Education Infrastructure for Resilience and Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects financed by the European Union and implemented by the Ministry of National Education Construction and Real Estate Department. The first bell rang for the Education Year in the Kırklardağı Anatolian High School during the event conducted in the district of Bağlar in Diyarbakır in September 20, 2018.

Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department, Mr. Gabriel MUNUERA VINALS, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, Mr. Frank BELLON, KfW Ankara Office Director, Mr. Naci HELVACI, Deputy Governor of Diyarbakır, Mr. Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, Head of the Construction Works Department, local authorities, students and teachers participated in the opening ceremony.

Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department who got the floor to deliver his speech started by saying “Unfortunately I must inform you that children have mostly been effected by the civil war in Syria. Children who have witnessed the violence environment are damaged both cognitively and psychologically and have had difficulty to access to various basic rights notably education”. Mr. DUMAN told that the most important instrument to survive better for the individuals and to transmit cultural background is education and said that “Unfortunately, communities who do not improve themselves and undermine the education tend to fall. Mr. DUMAN who provided information about the constructed schools told that “The prefabricated schools are constructed in order to meet the emergent educational demand of the Syrian migration after the Crisis and they provide long term use with a rapid construction process”.

The reinforced concrete schools provide opportunities and quality learning environments for all children with laboratories, sport hall, canteen, counseling room, art room and multipurpose hall after the construction process is completed in 12 months. The disaster-resilient schools with quality sound and heat insulation creates an environment providing the sense of belonging”. Mr. Özcan DUMAN continued his speech that “both all Turkish and Syrian children will benefit from the schools to be constructed under the Project.

Mr. DUMAN ended his speech that “The opening ceremony for this education was conducted and this means a new period for education in every respect. Today, the biggest happiness is to complete the construction of the schools until the education year and to witness the smile of you, our children”.

 

Dr. Ahmet Naci HELVACI, Deputy Governor of Diyarbakır told that 461 thousand students are enrolled in the schools in Diyarbakır and Governorship and institutions make special effort to provide best education for the students. Deputy Governor Mr. Helvacı remembered that millions of Syrians who have to leave their country for political issues are hosted in Turkey. Mr. Gabriel MUNUERA VINALS, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey who got the floor appreciated the hospitality of Turkey for the Syrian refugee. Mr. VİNALS emphasized that Turkey has made a great sacrifice for Syrians and told that: “Number of the registered refugee is over 3,5 million and 1 million of this figure are children at school-aged. This figure is almost equal with the population of Brussel. The Ministry of National Education works for meeting the needs in the most rapid way. This is really commendable. Over 600 thousand Syrian children go to school in Turkey. This is an incredible success”.

 

The protocol rang the first bell after the folk dances and concert given by the student. The protocol members visited classrooms by talking with students and took a souvenir photo by sitting with children at the end of the day.

 

9 th of the Local Information Meeting of Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects is executed by the Construction and Real Estate Department with the European Union financial support via the German Development Bank is conducted in Adıyaman.

Mr. Ayhan AKBAY, Deputy Governor, Kazım ÇOBAN, Provincial Director of National Education, Mr. Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, Head of the Construction Works Department, Mrs Corinna KOHL, Project Director of the German Development Bank (KfW), various local directors and project implementation unit have participated in the meeting.

“Adıyaman is the capital city for peace in Turkey”

Kazım ÇOBAN, Provincial Director of National Education started his speech by emphasizing the Syrian crisis and happenings and said that “Adıyaman is one of the provinces where Syrians have densely populated. A prefabricated school with 23 classrooms was constructed in the tent city where Syrians under the project live. In addition, temporary furnishing materials are provided. It is envisaged to construct 2 schools with 24 classrooms one of which is in Altınşehir quarter and the other is in Yunus Emre. The foundation of the school with 24 classrooms was laid and works are continued. The Provincial Director of National Education told that they will start the school construction as soon as possible following to commencing the excavation work and said that “thanks our ministry for their efforts and German representatives for their contributions”.

Mr. Çoban telling that Adıyaman is the capital city of peace in Turkey ended his speech that “ Adıyaman constitutes a sample with all ethnical groups, denominational differences and every types of social structures for Turkey. It is the capital city for peace. All people in Turkey know it. We expect your important support and contributions. I also extend my thanks to Honorable Head, Ministry and German representatives. Thank you very much”.

Mrs. Corinna KOHL, the Project Director of the German Development Bank who got the floor said that “Turkey is the only country hosting the most crowded number of refugees who are over 3,5 million from Syria and other countries. As you learned the figure in Adıyaman shortly before we are aware of the burden which is really serious in Adana. Turkey has made a great effort for meeting the needs and cohesion between refugees and Turkish community. Such work could only be performed with municipalities and the determination of the local community. Thus, in Adana we wish to state our pleasure for the interest and support to our project once again. We wish to state that the European Union is willing to support the assertive mission such as providing education to every children in Turkey”.

Mrs. Corinna ended her speech by emphasizing the project objective that “the project is not only limited by the construction of schools. The main objective of the project is to ensure the integration of the Turkish community and to create environments for mutual learning. We hope that better future will be created and open-hearted and responsible generations will be raised with such initiatives. Within this context, we look forward to make interactive information exchanges about the project through the local information meeting today.

“Future will be so beautiful as the Education”

Mr. Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, Head of the Ministry of National Education Construction and Real Estate Department who got the floor to deliver his speech told that “following to the civil war, a serious refugee crisis emerged in 2011 in Syria. Strong social, economic and cultural impacts have been felt in Turkey nearly for 7 years. As per, our mission and values from the past we firstly opened our hearts, then home and streets to our brothers. We then shared our schools, food and health services with them and tried to make them happy by showing hospitality in the best way”.

Mr. Oruç also extended thanks to the Provincial Directorate for their successful works on site to integrate Syrian children into education by stating that Adıyaman made a sample work for hosting and adopting the refugees.

Mr. Oruç emphasizing 3 main components by conducting the projects said that “Firstly, we aimed to decrease the pressure over the educational facilities in the region where Syrians under Temporary Protection have made a pressure and need for the additional capacity has emerged. Secondly, we aimed to enhance the physical quality. Considering the samples in the world, we could not have any place meeting the standards. We aimed to provide to Syrians the same standards with our people. We not only meet the classroom needs of children with laboratories, sport halls, libraries and multi-purpose halls but also try to create environments to support their developments in the socio-cultural areas.

Thirdly, we will increase the education and cooperation capacity with works to be performed. It will be one of the great projects which constitute a sample for all over the world in terms of works budget, works and standards”.

Mr. ORUÇ continued his speech that “we do not construct these schools. We design these schools as an educational environment to meet the educational needs of children both from the host community and Syrians in our own streets and provinces”. He ended his speech that “The future will be so beautiful as the education. Children especially coming from Syrian have experienced every kind of war environments. We aimed to provide a happy life to our children with our teachers, other agencies and public at the street within the schools to be constructed.

Mr. Ayhan AKBAY, the Deputy Governor started his speech by extending his pleasure to host you in such a good project in Adıyaman.

Mr. AKBAY said that “Our country has become an important agent in the region by making a great sacrifice since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. We could witness that Turkey has supported all countries facing difficulties not only during the Syrian crisis. We do not make any language, religious and racial discrimination and we are proud of this. We, the directors are very proud of expressing this in such meetings”.

Mr. AKBAY ended his speech by stating that approx. 30 thousands of Syrian have been hosted in Adıyaman that 10 thousand of this figure are resided in the tent city which we call as the temporary refugee center. Almost 20 thousand of this figure have resided in the city and district centers. As the Governorship of Adıyaman we provide all kinds of support to our guests as socially and economically within the possibilities and budget provided by our government. We try to provide all kinds of support either the social assistance foundation or Non-governmental organization. However, this project has been commenced to establish the education for all in times of crisis infrastructure for providing a smooth education infrastructure for our school-aged guests that is one of the project objectives”.

Groundbreaking Ceremony of the reinforced concrete schools to be constructed in Turkey was arranged in Fatih Terim Anatolian High School in Adana under the Education Infrastructure for Resilience Project implemented the Construction and Real Estate Department with the European Union Financial Facility via the World Bank.

Mr. Özcan DUMAN, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department, Mr. Mustafa ALTINSOY, Adana Provincial Directorate of National Education, Mrs. Simona GATTI, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey and Mrs. Tamara SULUKHİA, Deputy Country Director- Head of World Bank's Sustainable Development Programme for Turkey and Mr. Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, Head of the Construction Department participated in the Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Adana Governor Mr. Mahmut DEMİRTAŞ stated in the speech during the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the reinforced educational facilities that education is an important process required by each individual during their lifetime. Mr. Demirtaş expressed that the construction of 10 prefabricated schools to be constructed in Adana is about to be completed and the process for the reinforced concrete schools are commenced with the groundbreaking ceremony conducted today. The Governor Demirtaş emphasized that educational opportunities for Syrian children will be increased with the construction of the school and ended his speech that “we open not only our border but also our hearts for our Syrian guests in a world where the wire netting is tightened. Within this frame, Adana host averagely 200 thousand of 4 million Syrian brothers who take refuge in Turkey. We provide education either in temporary education center or official schools for almost 35 thousand Syrian children in our province. I believe that Syrian children at school- aged will no longer have a school problem with the completion of school to be constructed under the Project, we will take an important step in meeting the school and classroom needs in every part of our province”.

“It will have very good reflections in the future”

Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Ministry of National Education Construction and Real Estate Department expressed by providing information about the schools whose foundation has been laid that they have commenced the project for providing education for children coming to Turkey after the war in Syria with the EU support. Mr. Duman who explained the Project details said that:

“Today, we conduct the groundbreaking ceremony under the Education Infrastructure for Resilience Project for the schools not only in Adana but also all schools. In total 21 schools including 10 prefabricated school and 11 reinforced concrete school will be operational in Adana. We believe that even a small contribution in education will have very good reflections in the future. Within this scope, I extend my thanks to the institutions supporting us within the conducted projects”.

“We are proud of the achievements in Turkey”

Mrs. Tamara SULUKHİA, Head of World Bank's Sustainable Development Programme for Turkey expressed that they now work very fast to complete the project and construct the schools. Mrs. SULUKHİA emphasizing the importance of the education for Syrians told that “we will have tried to build the future with the schools to be constructed under this project, quality of education to be provided and beneficiaries for every child. At this project, we try to encourage them to be the leader of their country and region globally. The World Bank has become an important partner of Turkey notably in the last 30-40 years. The World Bank who provides support to Turkey to overcome primary problems of Turkey is proud of this. We are proud of achievements of Turkey and congratulate you”.

“Turkey displayed a superhuman effort for Syrians”

Mrs. Simona GATTI, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey expressed that she is proud of being in Turkey and Adana. Mrs. Gatti telling that they try to meet needs of school-aged children affected by the Syrian crisis. Mrs. Gatti stated that “Turkey showed a great hospitality by making a superhuman effort since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011. Turkey has hosted about 3,5 million Syrians and 30% of this figure is under 18 age. This percentage is at school-aged. EU has created a facility package for this reason”.

Participants lay the foundation of schools by pressing the buttons after their speech.

In Turkey, 215 schools including 60 prefabricated, 155 reinforced concrete are constructed in the countrywide. An additional capacity with 153.000 students will be created within these schools.

The second contracts were signed on Wednesday in July 11, 2018 for the reinforced concrete schools to be constructed under the Education for All in Times of Crisis Project executed by the Construction and Real Estate Department with EU support and via the World Bank.

Niyazi Bayramoğulları İnşaat San. Tic. A.Ş, the contractor firm which has awarded the tender for 5 schools to be constructed in Mersin, authorities, Mr. Özcan DUMAN, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department, Mr. Fatih Mehmet ORUÇ, Head of the Construction Works and project team participated in the signature ceremony.

Dr. DUMAN emphasizing that the completion of the construction works timely is an indicator followed in terms of the project activities and either the Contracting Authority or the Contractor is required to work in the solution-oriented way during this process.

It is envisaged to construct 56 schools in 12 provinces under the Education Infrastructure for Resilience Project. Tenders for the construction works are published under the construction of the educational facilities which are the main components of the Project and the signature process is conducted with the successful bidders.

Contract for the tender for the construction of 5 schools to be constructed in Gaziantep under the Education for All in Times of Crisis-II executed by the Construction and Real Estate Department was awarded.

Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department who told in the contract signature ceremony emphasized by remembering the importance of the project to the contracting firm that the coordination with the Project Implementation Unit is required to be established for the completion of the construction process within the prescribed process and the required sacrifice should be displayed.

With the signed contract, 3 school in the Kızılhisar quarter, 1 in Mavikent Quarter, 1 in Umut Quarter and 5 in Gaziantep in total will be constructed. An additional capacity with 3600 students will be established with these schools and each school has 24 classrooms.

It is envisaged that 159 schools in total including 99 reinforced concrete and 60 prefabricated and will be constructed across Turkey with Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects.

“Opening Ceremony of the Prefabricated Educational Facilities” under “Education for All in Times of Crisis I&II Projects” executed by the Ministry of National Education Construction and Real Estate Department financed by the European Union was conducted in the Nizip-2 camp site in Gaziantep.

Mr. Yusuf TEKİN, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education, Christian BERGER, Ambassador of the Delegation of European Union to Turkey, Roland SILLER, member of the German Development Bank (KfW) Executive Committee, Mr. Cengiz METE, Provincial Director of the National Education, Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department and participated in the opening ceremony of the Prefabricated Educational Facilities.

“Turkey has embraced Syrians without discrimination since the beginning of the war.”

Mr. Yusuf Tekin, Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education said during his speech that “ Turkey has embraced Syrians without discrimination since the beginning of the war. Mr. Tekin told that “The mentioned fund constitutes only 15-20% of the required budget to ensure that Syrian children attend the school. Today, 65% of Syrian children are schooling. Half of the 7 million Syrians who have been displaced are hosted in Turkey. It is the best sample for displaying the hospitality of Turkey”.

“We share our school, food and water with Syrians”

Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, the Governor of Gaziantep emphasized that almost all of the foreign guests coming to Gaziantep appreciated the efforts of Turkey. Mr. Yerlikaya told that “We have disbursed approx. 33 billion Dollar. We, people from Gaziantep share our school, hospital, food and water with Syrians. We do everything without with no thought of personal gain”.

“We are proud of supporting the great effort made by the Turkish authorities.”

Mr. Christian BERGER, the Ambassador from the European Union Delegation to Turkey stated that today they came together to make the first opening ceremony of 215 schools in total which are constructed in different regions of Turkey in a short time. We are proud of the great efforts made by the Turkish authorities to facilitate the access of Syrian children to education rapidly since the provision of the European Union Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT) created in Turkey which completes the Trust Fund of the European Union for Syria”.

Mr. Berger who expressed that over 600 thousand Syrians children attend the school told that “215 new schools will be built in 19 provinces via the project with a budget in the amount of 475 million EURO with our partners; KfW and the World Bank. Thus, an additional capacity for 153.000 student will be created and Syrian and Turkish children will complete their education within the schools with good equipment”.

Mr. BERGER ended his speech “many countries have experienced such loss. We cannot take a risk that the Syrian children lose their future. Children attending the school will save both their and Syrian future. 3 thousands of Syrian children will be schooled within this campsite. We wish that they have a story extending from this school to the university education. It is really commendable for Turkey to embrace the Syrians. We now conduct the opening ceremony of these schools but we wish that we will close them with the end of the war”.

Mr. Özcan Duman, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department started his speech by underlining the importance of education. Mr. Duman told that “As is known, the most important instrument for the individuals to survive better and to transmit the cultural background to the new generation is education. Unfortunately, communities who do not improve themselves and undermine the education tend to fall”.

Mr. Duman conveyed that “215 educational facilities including prefabricated and reinforced concrete schools with 475 million Euro provided by the European Union and stated that the required equipment for the schools in the world standards were procured with the provided fund under the Project.

Mr. Duman, Head of the Construction and Real Estate Department ended his speech “thus we take every steps by considering that education is the basic right of every child and maintain our efforts for strong and happy individuals systematically”. After all speeches, the protocol got the floor for the ribbon cutting. The opening ceremony ended after the first rang of the bell and shooting souvenir photo.