Mentioned that his Ministry adamantly continued face-to-face education during the 2001-2022 school year, Minister Özer stressed that schools are not only served for education.

 

"Learning loss is not the only thing we must overcome. We close down schools. Schools are the places where we increase and improve the quality of human resources which is the most valuable asset of a country. They are essential for the psychosocial and emotional development of students, for peer education and cultural, artistic and sport activities," stated Özer.

 

Özer said that education institutions are the places where inequalities in the society are observed at a minimum level and schools overcome inequalities.

 

Referring to the press conference held in the Ministry of Health during the Covid-19, Özer said, "Schools must be closed last and opened first. Keeping schools open is a matter of national security rather than being a matter of education."

 

Minister Özer thanked teachers and school principals who made sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

 

Minister Özer stated that there has been a significant increase in the schooling rates in the last 20 years when compared to the past and Türkiye achieved to reach the schooling rate of developed countries in all levels of education.

 

Reminding that antidemocratic practices such as the headscarf ban and coefficient practice in education was lifted in the last twenty years in Türkiye, Özer said that they have responded to social demands.

 

Özer also mentioned international success stories of Türkiye and noted that UNESCO Secretary General Cornmann said in his social media message that Türkiye must be an inspiration for the region due to its success it achieved in education in the last 20 years after their meeting in Paris.

 

Minister Özer stated that the Ministry has been prioritizing "preschool education, vocational education and professional development programs for teachers".  

 

Noting that the Ministry has adapted the school based training program approach, Özer said, "We have increased the budget allocated for training programs for teachers which was 8,9 million lireas in 2021 to 292 million in 2022. We have spent 210 million liras to school-based professional training programs for teachers." 

 

Concerning training programs for teachers and their certificates, Minister Özer went on to say that: "Previously, we have distributed 1,2 million certificates to teachers who have completed central and local training programs organized by our Ministry. Training program per teacher figure was 44 hours. After August 6, we focused on training programs for teachers and the number of certificates distributed to students increased to 2,9 million in 2021 and training program per teacher increased to 94 hours. Our goal is to increase this figure to at least 120 hours for each teacher. Right now, we have distributed 6,3 million certificates. We will open new training programs after the opening of the new school year. Most important component of our goal to increase the quality of the existing education system is teachers. Due to this reason, we will give all kinds of support to the professional and personal development of teachers and school principals."

 

Özer added that the Ministry will respond to all needs of schools varying from cleaning supplies to stationary and from minor repairs to reinforcement of school buildings.