Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed educators and members of the education community during an iftar dinner held at the Beştepe Nation’s Exhibition Hall in Ankara, emphasizing the critical role of the younger generation in shaping Türkiye’s future.

In his speech, Erdoğan outlined the government’s ambitious "Century of Türkiye Education Model," aimed at fostering a generation equipped with knowledge, wisdom, and virtue.

"New generations who not only encompass the era but also go beyond it, who combine knowledge with wisdom, virtue, prudence, and discernment, are the strongest guarantee of the future of this nation," Erdoğan stated. He stressed that the initiative seeks to raise young people capable of elevating Türkiye to new heights through a blend of these core values and a strong will.

Reflecting on the past 23 years, Erdoğan hailed what he described as a "silent revolution" in education, alongside advancements in other sectors. He pointed to significant improvements in educational infrastructure, bringing Turkish institutions up to European standards. "We have reduced the number of students in classrooms to an ideal level—23 in primary education and 22 in secondary education," he said, noting that over 360,000 new classrooms have been built, bringing the total to 735,000 nationwide.

The president also highlighted enhanced access to educational materials, crediting a modern educational information system that allows students to easily obtain resources. He underscored that these physical investments have been paired with curriculum reforms to strengthen the education system holistically.

In a pointed remark, Erdoğan addressed perceived threats to the nation’s progress, saying: "We are aware of the games of those greedy and rapacious people" and the "cheap calculations" of those exploiting youthful enthusiasm. He vowed to protect the dreams and hopes of Türkiye’s youth, declaring, "With Allah’s permission, we will not allow anyone to steal the dreams or crush the hopes of our youth, who are the guarantee of our future."

The speech comes as part of Erdoğan’s broader narrative of resilience and national advancement, positioning education as a cornerstone of Türkiye’s ambitions for the century ahead. (ILKHA)