ADANA, October 9, 2015 – A new school for Syrian children was officially opened in Adana today. The UNICEF-supported education centre was built in partnership with AFAD, the Ministry of National Education, and with the financial support of the Government of the United States of America. The centre has 24 classrooms: 20 for primary education and 4 for pre-school education, and will provide education for 1,452 students. UNICEF has, so far, supported the construction or refurbishment of 77 schools. Of 31 newly constructed schools, like the Adana education centre, 13 were supported by the US Government.
The crisis in Syria has had a tragic impact on children’s lives. Wherever their current location is, Syrian children are paying the price for the worst humanitarian crisis in recent history by being deprived of their basic rights.More than 2 million Syrian children have been forced to live as refugees over the last years. There are more than 1 million Syrian children, over 600,000 of whom are of school age, now living in Turkey.
To provide quality education to children of all ages in camp and non-camp locations; UNICEF works in close cooperation with the Ministry of National Education (MONE), AFAD, local authorities, and other stakeholders. In this respect, UNICEF supports the provision of incentives and trainings for Syrian Volunteer Teachers, the establishment of double-shift schools for Syrian children; the construction of new education centres; the provision of student and school supplies, as well as maintenance and renovation costs for existing and new schools serving Syrian children.
"This new school is a tangible sign of Turkey’s noble aspirations, it’s determination to reach them, and the value of our partnership...As the first newly constructed education center supported by the US Government through UNICEF, it will help close the gap for Syrian children here who deserve a brighter future. The U.S. government is proud to be UNICEF’s largest donor in Turkey and we are determined to do all that we can to support projects like this”, said Ms. Anne C. Richard, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM)
Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF Representative in Turkey during his intervention declared: “Education is one of the most critical interventions to prevent the loss of a generation of Syrian children. Despite the remarkable efforts of the Government of Turkey and our partners, today 2 out of 3 Syrian girls and boys in Turkey remain out of school. We are grateful for the generous support of the US Government to UNICEF which will allow us to continue scaling up our response to provide more Syrian children with access to education. This will be critical for their future.”
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and it's work please visit www.unicef.org.tr
For further information, please contact:
Sema Hosta, Chief of Communication,UNICEF in Turkey, shosta@unicef.orgTel:+90 312 454 1010