The Minister of National Education of the Republic of Turkiye, Yusuf Tekin is visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for a one-day trip.
Shortly after his arrival, the Turkish Minister’s first visit was to the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu.
He was then received by Acting President and Speaker of the Parliament Zorlu Töre and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel.
Welcoming the Turkish Minister, the Acting President and Parliamentary Speaker Töre said that there was a unique bond between the TRNC and Türkiye.
Highlighting the significant contributions of the Turkish Ministry of National Education to the TRNC, Töre noted that last year, 16 trucks of materials were provided to the Ministry of National Education.
Stressing that Türkiye has always been supportive of the Turkish Cypriot people, he pointed to the importance of Turkish Cypriot youth growing up with national and spiritual values.
Turkey’s Minister of National Education, Tekin for his part said that the TRNC was a second homeland for Türkiye and that they are making efforts to pass down the national sentiments and thoughts they possess to future generations.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel also expressed great happiness in hosting Türkiye’s Minister of National Education and his accompanying delegation in the TRNC.
He wished that the cooperation between the two ministries would be beneficial for the country.
“As the TRNC, we always strive to work with Türkiye in overcoming all outstanding issues. We are only able to implement full-day education in primary schools for two days a week. In the future, we aim to make full-day education available in all schools for five days, ” he said.
He also mentioned the TRNC’s ongoing work to reinforce or rebuild school buildings to make them earthquake-resistant, particularly after the February 6 disaster in Türkiye.
The Turkish Minister of National Education for his part, expressed gratitude for the hospitality and warm welcome in the TRNC.
He emphasized the importance of being prepared for natural disasters in the modern age, noting that the magnitude of the tragedy becomes even more apparent when hearing the stories of those who experienced it.
Minister Tekin also mentioned that every new minister in Türkiye carries out his or her first trip abroad to the TRNC.
“There will be very meaningful projects carried out here. Just as the children in Türkiye are important to us, the children here are equally important to us. All our resources will be made available to the children here as well,” he said.
In the afternoon Tekin will meet with his TRNC counterpart Nazım Çavuşoğlu before holding a joint press conference.
As part of his visit to the TRNC, Yusuf Tekin will also visit the Hala Sultan Theological College and the Turkish Maarif Foundation Representative Office/Education Center.