During his visit to Pakistan, Minister Tekin met with Punjab Province Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and emphasized that Türkiye and Pakistan have always supported each other in challenging times.

 

Tekin emphasized that the people and politics of Pakistan stood by Türkiye during critical moments such as the War of Independence, the FETÖ coup attempt, and the February 6 earthquakes, and thanked them for their support.

 

Minister Tekin stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had instructed him to take the necessary steps to strengthen cooperation in the field of education between the two countries.

 

Minister Tekin stated that the ministries of education of both countries have a great responsibility in maintaining the friendship between the two nations and that the Ministry of National Education will continue to take steps to reinforce this bond.

 

Minister Tekin, providing examples of advancements in Türkiye's education system, stated that at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, Türkiye implemented a comprehensive overhaul of its curricula. He continued, 'In the changes made to these curricula, we included expressions in 20 different subjects that will make Türkiye-Pakistan friendship permanent, and we prioritized ensuring that future generations uphold the friendship between the two countries.

 

Minister Tekin also said that they have made competitions related to Muhammad Iqbal, one of Pakistan's prominent thinkers, a tradition in Türkiye, giving students the opportunity to learn more about Pakistan.

 

Minister Tekin also reminded that the Jinnah Young Writers Essay Competition is ongoing and stated, "As the Ministry of National Education, we are aware of this: If we embrace this friendship, future generations will also embrace it in a healthier way."

 

Minister Tekin emphasized that under President Erdoğan's leadership, Türkiye has made significant progress in the field of education over the past 22 years, both nationally and internationally.

 

Furthermore, Minister Tekin highlighted Türkiye's international achievements in education, noting that in the latest TIMSS reports, Türkiye has improved its rankings in every field and is now ranked first among European countries in 4th-grade science.

 

Providing details about his meeting with Sikander Hayat, the Education Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Province, Tekin stated that the two countries could cooperate in many areas, ranging from the more efficient use of technology in education to the processes of training teachers for vocational and technical education, as well as the mutual interaction of curricula.

 

Minister Tekin stated, "I would also like to sincerely thank for the interest shown in the Turkish Maarif Foundation across Pakistan. The Turkish Maarif Foundation was established with the aim of creating a strong diploma program within the Islamic world. If we all embrace this process together, we will have built a very strong diploma program in this regard. I thank you once again for your support of the Turkish Maarif Foundation."

 

Punjab Province Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized that Türkiye, which she has visited numerous times, is a second home for Pakistanis.

 

While expressing her respect for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sharif thanked Minister Tekin for Türkiye's support of education in Pakistan.

 

Pointing out that there are many areas where the two countries can increase their cooperation, Sharif said that they are ready to fulfill their responsibilities in these areas.

 

Sikander Hayat, Minister of Education of Pakistan's Punjab Province, was also present at the meeting.