TİKA Supports the Day of Education in Turkish Language, Celebrated on December 21, in North Macedonia

The Day of Education in Turkish Language was celebrated with an official ceremony held by the Union of Turkish Non-Governmental Organizations in Macedonia (MATÜSİTEB) in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, on December 21 with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).

As part of the program organized on December 21 on the occasion of the Day of Education in Turkish Language, Prof. Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the accompanying delegation visited the Yucelciler Monument at the entrance of the historical Tefeyyuz Primary School in Skopje and placed carnations.

After their visit to the monument, Prof. Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the accompanying delegation inaugurated the Computer Laboratory in the Tefeyyuz Primary School in Skopje, which was built with the support of TİKA; inspected the activities of students at the laboratory; and received a briefing from officials.

The official program organized by MATÜSİTEB with the support of TİKA on the evening of December 21 on the occasion of the Day of Education in Turkish Language was attended by Prof. Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; Talat Xhaferi, President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia; Artan Grubi, Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia; Mila Carovska, Minister of Education and Science of North Macedonia; Hasan Mehmet Sekizkök, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Skopje; Dr. Mahmut Çevik, Vice President of TİKA; Hüsrev Emin, Chairperson of MATÜSİTEB; representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations in the country; high-ranking government officials; members of the parliament; academics; teachers; and students.

In his opening statements, Hüsrev Emin, Chairperson of MATÜSİTEB, stressed the importance of that day for Turkish people and wished them a good Day of Education in Turkish Language. Emin thanked TİKA and the Republic of Turkey for their support and underlined the place and importance of the Turkish population in North Macedonia.

Dr. Mahmut Çevik, Vice President of TİKA, delivered a speech at the ceremony, held in Skopje on December 21 with the support of TİKA, and stated that he brought greetings from Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. Çevik stressed that TİKA has implemented a significant part of its educational projects in North Macedonia and built 55 of nearly 335 schools in this country. Çevik said, “Turkish language is the heart, mind, and sacred treasure of the Turkish people.” He added, “We have built dozens of schools from Bučim Village in Radoviš, to Khojaly Village in Karbinci, to Yüksekmahallesi in Valandovo, to Dolgaš Village in Centar Župa, to Ǵopčeli Village in Dojran. Just as we have a common history, we also have a common future, which we will build together.” Çevik concluded his speech by thanking TİKA’s staff for contributing to the development of the country through projects and activities for 16 years.

Hasan Mehmet Sekizkök, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Skopje, noted that he was pleased that they have gathered to celebrate the Day of Education in Turkish Language in North Macedonia, which is the heart of the Balkans and has had unique cultural riches throughout history. He added that Turkish communities enriched the cultural texture of North Macedonia with their language, religion, literature, music, architecture, traditions, and customs and have become the cement of this land.

Mila Carovska, Minister of Education and Science of North Macedonia, stressed that education in first language is not a privilege, but a fundamental right; that Turkish people living in Macedonia gained the right to education in Turkish in 1944; and that this right was established by the Constitution, which was adopted after the declaration of independence in 1991.

Prof. Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, began his speech by stating that he brought greetings from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey. He stressed the importance of the Turkish language and education in Turkish and underlined that the official celebration of the Day of Education in Turkish Language on December 21 in North Macedonia was a valuable achievement for the unity of Turkish communities. Prof. Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, said, “We have existed and become a nation thanks to Turkish. Throughout our existence, we have understood from first-hand experience that Turkish is a language of peace. It will remain a language of peace in the future, as well.”

After the opening statements, gifts were presented by guests of honor to the top 3 winners in the poetry, prose, and painting competition titled “Turkish from Rumelia to Turkistan,” held by MATÜSİTEB with the support of TİKA for primary school, high school, and university students across the country on the occasion of the Day of Education in Turkish Language. The ceremony ended after the reception held in honor of Prof. Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Day of Education in Turkish Language (December 21)

In North Macedonia, Turkish people gained the right to education in Turkish on December 21, 1944. Thus, December 21 was declared a national day for Turkish people in North Macedonia as a result of the adoption of the proposed amendment to the Law on Public Holidays of the Republic of North Macedonia in 2007.

Since 2008, the Union of Turkish Non-Governmental Organizations in Macedonia (MATÜSİTEB), an umbrella organization of more than 60 associations operating in the fields of education, culture, and social services in North Macedonia, has been holding events to celebrate the Day of Education in Turkish Language (December 21) with the support of TİKA.