KRG’s education min. offical meets head of Maarif Foundation

By Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA

The Kurdish Regional Government's (KRG) Education Ministry undersecretary on Sunday visited Turkey's Maarif Foundation in Istanbul.

According to a statement by the foundation, Fakhralddin Bahaaddin Qadir visited a training center where 85 teachers set to teach in Erbil are attending seminars ahead of the new school year.

Qadir later met Birol Akgun, head of the foundation, where he thanked Akgun for his contributions.

Akgun said the teachers will complete their training on Monday and will join school on Tuesday.

He also said the teachers will be teaching students of kindergarten, primary, middle, and high school levels at a 2,500-student-capacity learning center.

The handing over of FETO-affiliated schools to the Maarif Foundation are ongoing, Akgun added.

“We expect support from the Turkish Maarif Foundation in the fields of science and university scholarship programs, which are particularly needed in the region,” Qadir added.

Turkey established the Maarif Foundation in 2016 to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated July 2016 coup in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

FETO is reportedly present in more than 150 countries around the world, through schools, NGOs, lobbyists, media outlets, and other companies.