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.
