December 04, 2017•Update: December 04, 2017
IZMIR, Turkey
School-aged Syrians living in Turkey are quickly integrating into the country's education system, a Turkish official told Anadolu Agency on Monday.
“The adaptation of school-aged Syrian children to the education system in Turkey has progressed quickly and healthily,” said Ali Riza Altunel, general director of lifelong learning in the Turkish Ministry of National Education.
He stated that 600,000 out of 972,000 Syrian children of age to go to school had been receiving an education in establishments across Turkey, stressing the “high schooling rate of Syrian children”.
Altunel said the figure was “above the level of pre-war countries”.
“More than 50 percent of the students accepted in schools are integrated into the Turkish education system. The students are taught in Turkish together with Turkish students in classes,” said Altunel.
He added that Turkey’s government had been spending around 500 liras per month (approximately $127 ) for each Syrian student.
The total amount Turkey has spent in order to educate Syrian children was higher than what many European countries have spent for all Syrians living on their respective terrirtories, he said.
Turkey is home to some 3 million Syrian refugees who have taken shelter after fleeing the war at home.
Ankara has spent $30 billion to help shelter refugees since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
Reporting by Halil Sahin:Writing by Sorwar Alam
