Page 81 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

is approaching 980,000 in the 2017-2018 academic year, around 48,000 new teachers
will be needed for these Syrian students. 48

Although there is no problem at the preschool level or in the first and second grades of
the primary schools, teachers who teach in the later grades also need to participate in
teacher training courses.

The “Financial Aid Program for Refugees in Türkiye” grant agreement, totaling 500
million euros, was signed between the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye
and the Ministry of National Education on October 3, 2016 to finance all types
of education expenses that will arise as a natural result of the integration of Syrian
students into the Turkish education system. Of this amount, 200 million euros will be
used for school construction, and 300 million euros will be used for school supplies and
similar educational expenses. With this active EU financial support, the “Project for
Supporting the Integration of Syrian children into the Turkish Education System” has
begun for children in Türkiye under temporary protection.

This project, carried out by the Ministry of National Education Directorate General
of Lifelong Learning, has set important goals for a comprehensive solution to the
educational problem. Within the scope of this project, which is expected to be completed
in 2 years and is abbreviated as “PICTES,” 300,000 Syrian students will be provided with
Turkish language education, 40,000 Syrian students with Arabic language education,
10,000 Syrian students with remedial education, and 20,000 students with educational
support. Also, within the scope of the project, a total of 500,000 Syrian children will
be given support for school supplies, educational materials, and clothing, 50,000 will
be given transportation services, 60,000 children at various levels of education will be
provided scholarship opportunities, 340,000 course resource books will be provided,
and a total of 500 psychologists, sociologists, guidance counselors will be appointed to
provide psychosocial support to school-aged Syrians who fled their country because
of war. Within the scope of the project, a measurement system will be developed and
implemented in order to monitor the success of the Syrians who receive educational
services. During the project, 500 security officers and 500 cleaning personnel will be
employed in schools and temporary training centers to ensure the hygiene and safety of
the environment where the Syrian students are trained. Furthermore, 15,000 teachers
and 2,000 administrators will be given in-service training opportunities at the facilities
where they provide education; an average of 10,000 euros worth of infrastructure

48
Considering that a teacher working in a primary or secondary school in Türkiye has a monthly gross salary
(salary, pension, insurance, etc.) of 4,000 TL, or approximately €1,000, it can be understood that adding 48.000
teachers will have a total annual cost of €576 million. Taking into account other costs besides teacher costs, it
can be assumed that the enrollment of 960,000 children will cost at least €1 billion annually.

SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT 81