Turkey makes Maarif Foundation global education brand

By Selma Kasap

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Maarif Foundation has become a global brand of education that provides education from kindergarten to university at all levels, chairman of the foundation said on Tuesday.

"We proved ourselves with a developed curriculum and international comparative education experience and become Turkey’s global education brand", Birol Akgun told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.

Akgun said 40% of 250 students studying in Maarif schools in Romania is Turkish and the rest of them are Muslim minorities or they are connected with Turkey.

"We are giving priority to Turkish teachers in Macedonia and Georgia, because in these countries most of our students are Turkish as well," he added.

Akgun mentioned that they have over 5,000 personnel all around the world including 500 teachers, administrators and technic staff from Turkey.

Teachers and administrators gained great experience by Maarif Foundation’s education activities abroad, he said.

- 'One of quality indicators is university placement rate'

Maarif Foundation has 33,000 students but this number only indicates the quantity, said Akgun.

The foundation cares about quality education and for that reason it has prepared 2020-2023 period strategic plan to be implemented starting from the next term, he added.

One of the indicators of education quality is placement rate and our school’s success rises steadily, he said.

"We have a rising success trend in all Maarif schools either in our new established schools or the ones linked to Fetullah Terrorist Organization [FETO]".

Based on the statistics about the placement of alumni, the success ratio is around 90-100% in some of the schools, he added.

The Turkish government set up the Turkish Maarif Foundation soon after the 2016 defeated coup, orchestrated by FETO with an aim to administer overseas schools linked to FETO.

The foundation has also established schools and education centers in various continents, from Africa to Asia, over the last three years.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

FETO also has a considerable presence outside Turkey, including private schools that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

*Writing by Davut Demircan