The Lifelong Learning Week opening ceremony was held in the Turkish History Museum in Ankara with the participation of Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer.

 

Minister Özer said during his speech at the opening ceremony that education is the most important instrument in increasing the quality of human resources which is the most valuable asset of every country.  

 

He noted that his Ministry is not only working in an effort to serve the young population at school age but also for all people who need education and training.

  

Stating that barriers preventing people with disabilities from getting education were lifted, Özer said that 453 thousand students are enrolled in different types of schools.

 

"There was a lack of education institutions for adults with disabilities. Within two weeks, we will inaugurate public education centers for people with disabilities that will be established in Ankara, İstanbul and İzmir. We will provide free transportation to these centers for people with disabilities," said Özer.

 

Özer stressed that his Ministry provided different opportunities to many people who dropped out of school to continue their education.  He reminded that the Ministry carried out a project under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's spouse Emine Erdoğan for allowing women who dropped out of school to continue their education and tens of thousands of women completed their education.

 

Minister Özer said that people of all ages can enroll in training programs offered by the public education centers adding that, "We have set a new goal to enroll 1 million people in public education center courses every month. These courses increase the quality of life of people and also increase employment rates."

 

Advanced Technical Schools for Girls located in 24 cities of the country have been working in an effort to transfer the historical tissue and culture to the future with an innovative approach.

 

"We are carrying out projects about these schools with the support of Emine Erdoğan. Recently, we have decided to inaugurate 5 new advanced technical schools for girls  in Edirne, Balıkesir, Kastamonu, Zonguldak and Siirt,"  stated Özer.

 

Cerebral palsy patient Eda Dilşat Çelik made a speech at the ceremony. She said that attending courses at the Altındağ Public Education Center was a milestone in her life.

 

"I was unhappy because I was not able to socialize. Then, I attended tennis courses at the center. We worked hard for months. My trainers believed in me. My dream was to run and I achieved it," she said.

 

5 million 224 thousand and 297 people enrolled in 241,355 free courses in 73 different branches in the first five months of 2022. The Ministry of National Education is celebrating the first week of June as the "Lifelong Learning Week" in an effort to improve and disseminate lifelong activities.