Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the opening of the 2024-2025 school year and a conference on R&D and quality of education technologies, held at the Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul.

In his remarks, President Erdoğan expressed his hopes for a prosperous school year for students, teachers, and the broader education community.

During his address, President Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye’s vision for the “Century of Türkiye” is not merely a distant goal, but a concrete commitment to the future of every citizen. He noted the significant strides made in the past 22 years to enhance the country’s education system, saying: “Our Century of Türkiye goal is not just a horizon but a strong commitment to the future of each and every individual of this august country. We are fulfilling this commitment with our new education approach, technological moves, and democratization steps."

Erdoğan highlighted the improvements in Türkiye’s educational infrastructure, particularly in digital learning. "We are in a leading position among the OECD countries in ensuring technological infrastructure in education," he said, referencing the 2022 PISA report. Türkiye’s schools report a minimal digital resource shortage, and the country has achieved a 91% improvement in readiness for digital learning, surpassing OECD countries. Additionally, 88% of Turkish teachers are proficient in using digital tools for education, a figure also above the OECD average.

Erdoğan also touched on the challenges posed by the digital world, including the rise of social media addiction and harmful content targeting the youth. He noted that many countries, particularly in the West, have implemented strict regulations on digital technologies to protect their citizens, often without facing criticism. However, when Türkiye takes similar steps, it is met with opposition.

“Legitimizing violence, immorality, racism, hate crimes, and even abuse under the mask of freedom is totally unacceptable," Erdoğan said, urging for stronger protection of children against the risks posed by digital platforms.

The speech underscores Türkiye’s continued commitment to advancing its educational system and addressing the complexities of the digital age. (ILKHA)