Turkey schooling almost 79,000 Syrian children

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

REUTERS photo

Almost 79,000 Syrian children are being educated in Turkey’s temporary refugee centers, Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak told state-run Anadolu Agency on Dec. 7.  

Turkey is hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees worldwide, and so far has spent more than $20 billion to $25 billion on their care, according to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.        

Kaynak said 13,600 teachers, 12,630 of whom are from Arab states and the rest who are Turkish, were educating a total of 78,824 Syrian children in kindergartens, primary schools and high schools in temporary refugee centers.        

The schools provide mathematics, sciences, social sciences and computing classes, as well as language courses in Turkish, English and Arabic.        

Kaynak highlighted that around 133,400 Syrian students were currently enrolled in public schools run by the Education Ministry.        

He also said the Turkish government had established over 2,000 vocational training courses for adult refugees. So far, 222,900 trainees had qualified in courses in hairdressing, sewing, weaving, handicrafts, computing and languages.        

“Education, health, security and religious services are provided in temporary shelter centers, 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” he added.