Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer made comments about the education agenda to the Anatolian News Agency.
Reminding that increasing preschool education schooling rate is among the priority of his Ministry, Özer stressed that schooling rate in basic, secondary and higher education increased rapidly in the last 20 years and reached the average of OECD countries.
"As a part of our goal to improve preschool education schooling rate, we have initiated a new project. Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that 3 thousand new kindergartens and 40 thousand preschool classrooms will be opened and this project continues with success," said Özer.
Minister Özer stated that the schooling rate among 3 year old children which was 14 percent increased to 50 percent, schooling rate among 4 year old children which was 35 percent reached 70 percent and they are aiming at increasing the schooling rate among 5 year old children to 100 percent until the end of 2022.
"Till now, we have inaugurated 112 new kindergartens and completed the bidding process of 264 school buildings. As a part of our goal to open 40 thousand new preschool classrooms, we have opened 8,145 classrooms. In a previous statement, I had mentioned that we have completed the investment programs of 2,500 kindergartens. Today, I would like to announce that we have finalized our studies. Investment programs concerning the construction of 3 thousand kindergarten buildings were completed as a part of their goal to increase preschool education schooling rate in the country. We already defined the location of schools. Interior design of schools and requirements of teachers and administrators will be completed swiftly until the end of this year," said Özer.
12 thousand children living in rural areas are enrolled in preschool education
Özer reminded that student criteria required to open preschool classrooms in rural areas and villages were decreased from 10 students to 5 students.
"This decision allowed us to enroll 12 thousand children in preschool classrooms. Right now, the schooling rate among 5 year old children which was 78 percent increased to 90 percent. Our project continues with success. We will increase the schooling rate among this age group to 100 percent until the end of this year," stated Özer.
Location of 1.000 kindergarten buildings that will be built in İstanbul is defined
Minister Özer reminded that the majority of new kindergarten buildings will be constructed in İstanbul adding that, "1,000 new kindergarten buildings will be constructed in İstanbul. We have defined the location of these schools."