The Vocational Training and Local Products Fair commenced on Tuesday at the Civil Marriage Registry Office located in the Lefkoşa Fair Grounds.
The opening ceremony was attended by President Ersin Tatar, the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman, ministers, officials from the Ministry of National Education and Culture, and representatives from civil society organizations.
Organized by the Vocational Technical Education Department affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, the fair will span three days, during which 12 vocational high schools, the Apprenticeship Training Centre, the Lifelong Learning Center, and 11 universities will exhibit products and demonstrations.
During the opening of the fair, President Ersin Tatar underscored the importance of lifelong learning, stating that by shaping professions and enhancing understanding, greater productivity can be achieved.
He emphasized the need to contemplate “How can we transform the island into a more sustainable structure” by utilizing vocational technical education alongside digital transformation.
Tatar expressed the aim of training not only intermediate-level workers but also masters to bind the people to their homeland, while also highlighting the necessity of finding ways to bring back trained Turkish Cypriots residing abroad to their homeland.
The Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre emphasized the importance of vocational education and local production, pointing out their significance for the country’s production activities.
Töre stressed that vocational education is vital for sustaining development, highlighting the ongoing progress in the country.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel remarked on the resilience of Turkish Cypriots in overcoming isolation, oppression, and adversities, stating that the TRNC is advancing in production with each passing day.
He emphasized the importance of investing in children and youth, stating that educated youth will fill many gaps in the country in the future, contributing to a balanced import-export situation and advancing the country.
Addressing the importance of production, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman emphasized that production is one of the essential elements of existence.
He highlighted the insufficient number of intermediate-level workers and the need for addressing this issue through campaigns, emphasizing the belief that families should understand the importance of their children acquiring vocational skills.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu emphasized the importance of businesses embracing local skilled workers and qualified labourers for the country.
He thanked all sectors contributing to the fair.
Additionally, the Minister of Economy and Energy Olgun Amcaoğlu recounted their contributions to vocational education and projects during his tenure as Minister of Education, emphasizing that every trained intermediate worker will be a strength for the country in the future.
He acknowledged the challenges of educating a skilled workforce and pledged continued support in this regard.
The Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu expressed their awareness of the importance of vocational education and their happiness in working towards this goal.
He highlighted the crucial role of vocational education in the country’s sustainability, citing examples from the pandemic period where vocational training institutions contributed to mass production.
Following the speeches, appreciation certificates were presented to those who contributed to the realization of the event.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union staged a “shock action” in front of the building where the opening ceremony took place.