3 thousand 500 disabled teachers were appointed by the Ministry of National Education as part of Disabled Public Personnel Selection Exam (EKPSS) with a ceremony held today.

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the Ministry of National Education Appointment Ceremony for 3 thousand 500 Teachers with Disabilities held at the MEB Council Hall.

 

President Erdoğan stated that 3 thousand 500 disabled citizens came together to be appointed according to the order of their scores in the exams.

 

Stressing that the level of participation of the disadvantaged in society is one of the most important signs of a country's development and progress, President Erdoğan highlighted the serious shortcomings of the past in Türkiye in the exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities in a wide range of areas from education to employment.

 

Stating that each individual of a country is unique, rich, and an inseparable part of that great whole, Erdoğan stressed that a country that neglects its disabled people has given up some of its potential. He said that therefore they have realized major reforms on the participation of persons with disabilities in life. He added that beyond material contributions and expanding institutional capacity, they have achieved a mindset revolution in this field.

 

In his speech at the ceremony, Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer first mentioned the earthquakes that took place in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, and once again wished Allah's upon those who lost their lives and patience to their relatives. Özer also wished Allah's mercy upon all teachers who lost their lives in the earthquakes and were martyred in the terrorist attacks.

 

Addressing President Erdoğan, Minister Özer said that under the leadership of the President, the last two decades have witnessed a revolutionary transformation in education. Pointing out that the most important capital of a country is human capital and resources, Özer emphasized that education is the most important factor in increasing the quality of this human capital.

 

Reminding that OECD countries increased their schooling rates to 90 percent or more at the end of the Second World War at all levels of education today, Özer said that in the early 2000s, the enrollment rate for 5-year-olds in Türkiye was 11, and the enrollment rate in secondary education was 44 percent, that is, half of the high school population. He reminded me that he was out of school. Özer said that with the education campaign that started under the leadership of President Erdoğan, huge education investments were made in all provinces and districts in Türkiye without any regional discrimination.

 

Reminding that the headscarf bans in the country are the biggest barrier to education and that girls are subjected to intense pressure at universities, Özer stated that both the headscarf ban and the 12-year coefficient application that led to the destruction of Imam Hatip and vocational high schools were abolished by President Erdoğan. Özer stated that thanks to Erdoğan, the vocational high schools continue to train qualified human resources for the labor market.

 

Noting that those who abuse the issue of equal opportunity in education today create barriers to equal opportunities in education, Özer stated that books and helpful resources are distributed free of charge for equal opportunities in education. Expressing that students are taken free of charge with bussed education, Özer said that today 5 million students eat free hot food every day.

 

Stating that the social policies in education in the last 20 years have reached 525 billion liras in today's exchange rate, Özer noted that the schooling rate at the 5 year old age group has reached 99.86 percent, which was 11 percent in the early 2000s, the schooling rate in secondary education has increased from 44 percent to 99.12 percent and the schooling rate in higher education has increased from 14 percent to over 50 percent. Özer expressed his sincere gratitude towards President Erdoğan on behalf of himself, teachers and their families for the support he has given to the education of the children of this country.

 

Stating that the Century of Türkiye would have been nothing but a dream without the education investments in the last 20 years, Minister Özer that the investments in the last twenty years correspond to a period that has eliminated all the shortcomings of the first century of the Republic.

 

Noting that the access problem has been resolved and teacher investment has been made, Özer said that in the last twenty years, more than 800 thousand teachers were appointed, increasing the number of teachers from 500 thousand to 1.2 million. Looking at the OECD reports, he underlined that there is no other country that has increased the number of students so much and reduced the number of students per teacher so much.

 

Noting that he expressed his gratitude to the teachers, whom he describes as "friends of the heart", for their contributions to education, Özer said that hopefully they will become much stronger with the appointment of 3 thousand 500 teachers today.

 

Pointing out that Covid-19 pandemic and the February 6 earthquake which are the two major traumas, Özer emphasized that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the teachers in the loyalty groups delivered the products needed by the citizens and the vocational high schools produced all the needs and delivered them to the citizens for free. Stating that in the 6 February earthquake, the teachers went to the field to help the people in the ten provinces hit by the earthquake, Özer said that the citizens have made and continue to make great contributions to issues such as food distribution, classification of aids, organization of tents and the continuation of education in tents. Thanking all the teachers, Özer stressed that they will continue to stay on course under the leadership of President Erdoğan and stand by the President with the entire education community in the Century of Türkiye.

 

Good news from President Erdoğan to disabled teachers who are not appointed today Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer announced that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had good news for all applicants Özer said that they will also appoint all the remaining teachers with disabilities. Özer expressed his gratitude to the President on behalf of all disabled teacher candidates. Wishing success to all the teachers appointed today, Özer concluded his speech by welcoming them to the education family.