Turkey’s Maarif teaches 30,000 students in 35 countries

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

A Turkish public education body is educating 30,000 students in 35 different countries, the body’s head told Anadolu Agency on June 16.

Birol Akgün, chairman of the Maarif Foundation, said they have official representations in 52 countries.

“We provide education to around 30,000 students in 270 schools in 35 countries,” he said.
Akgün said they have assumed administration of nearly 200 schools in 17 countries linked to the

FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt in Turkey.

He said the process of ex-FETÖ schools coming under Maarif administration and the process of opening new schools are both ongoing.

Akgün said they have opened 71 new schools in 16 countries to provide alternative schools in strategically priority areas and satisfy the education need of the Turkish diaspora.

He added that since the foundation’s establishment three years ago, they have established relations with 100 countries.

After the 2016 defeated coup, Turkey established the Maarif Foundation to assume the administration of overseas schools linked to the FETÖ. It also establishes schools and education centers abroad.

Ankara accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and academia.