“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.