Ali Murat Alhas
18 October 2018•Update: 19 October 2018
By Mazin Majeed Asaad Baqal
ERBIL, Iraq
Turkey shares its experience and skills with education with the world through its own Maarif Foundation, said a leading Turkish lawmaker on Thursday.
"By conducting educational activities in 40 countries worldwide, the Maarif Foundation applies Turkish experiences in education in its fellow countries," said Mehmet Mehdi Eker of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, helping to inaugurate a new school in Erbil, northern Iraq.
Hailing the importance of opening of the school in the area administered by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), he called the Maarif Foundation one of Turkey’s leading educational institutions, one that gives Turkey a chance to bring its experience to the world stage.
Saying that the Erbil International Maarif Foundation School will be able to educate about 500 students, he said: "God willing, the number of students will increase each year and the school will fulfill its capacity."
"Of course, the Maarif Foundation and we will not confine ourselves to primary and middle school level only. The most important aspect of this school is that students learn four different languages here. I hope that these educational institutions will bring luck to Turkey, Iraq, the KRG, and Erbil," he said.
Eker went on to say that the Maarif Foundation, founded in 2016, would continue opening schools in Iraq and other countries, fulfilling its mission to conduct educational activities, particularly abroad.
Though there might be some problems between neighbors from time to time, both sides must find ways to solve these issues and improve bilateral ties, he said.
"We are from the same cultural background and in the same geography. Our interests are directly interrelated. We should strive to take our commercial, trading and diplomatic ties to a higher level," he concluded.
*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara
