Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer reminded that his Ministry has been cooperating with the Ministry of Industry and Technology in many fields and thanked all who made contributions to the reinforcement of national education during his speech at the award ceremony.

 

Stressing that the most important capital of one country is its human resources, Özer said, "Most important instrument in increasing the quality of human resources is education. Due to this reason, countries work in an effort to enroll more than 90 percent of their children in education institutes. Countries' competitiveness increases when they achieve to improve the quality of their human resources. Welfare of countries depends on it. OECD countries completed this process in the 1950s after the end of World War II. However, Türkiye is 70 years late to join this race."

 

Minister Özer noted that Türkiye achieved an important increase in schooling rates in all levels of education varying from preschool to higher education and reached to the level of OECD countries adding that many anti-democratic practices such as headscarf ban and coefficient practices was lifted in the last 20 years.

 

Stating that the Ministry has been working in an effort to raise students who are not only academically successful but also future generations who know the values and culture of their society and respect their state and nation, Özer said, "We also give special importance to intellectual and industrial property rights which are crucial for the competitiveness of countries. Due to this reason, we started a campaign in vocational high schools after we achieved required development in the quality of these schools."

 

Özer noted that vocational high schools adapted an innovative approach and focused on intellectual property rights.

 

"Biggest support came from the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Patent and Brand Institution of Türkiye. Their experts designed training programs about the definition of intellectual and industrial property rights and registration programs for provincial directors of education, branch directorates and school principals. Our goal was to get the registration of 7 thousand and 500 products in 2022. As of August, the Patent and Brand Institution of Türkiye registered 8 thousand and 269 applications from schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education. We have exceeded our goal. If these developments were achieved 30 or 40 years ago, our competitiveness would be stronger," said Özer.

 

Following the speeches, Minister Özer and Minister Varank awarded students who were qualified in the contest.