10th Anniversary of Turkish Maarif Foundation Celebrated at the Presidential Complex
October 15, 2026
A special program titled “10 Years Building the Future” was held at the Presidential Complex to mark the 10th anniversary of Turkish Maarif Foundation. Attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the event highlighted the Foundation’s decade-long journey in international education, its activities across different regions of the world, and its goals for the future.
The program was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife, Emine Erdoğan; Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin; Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş; former Minister of National Education İsmet Yılmaz; President of Turkish Maarif Foundation Mahmut M. Özdil; ambassadors; members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of Turkish Maarif Foundation; and heads and representatives of various institutions and organizations.
The program featured a performance by a choir composed of students from different countries where Turkish Maarif Foundation conducts educational activities. The opening address was delivered by Mahmut M. Özdil, President of Turkish Maarif Foundation.
Mahmut M. Özdil: “Today, That Voice Echoes in Sixty-Six Countries, in Countless Languages”
In his address, Mahmut M. Özdil, President of Turkish Maarif Foundation, reflected on the vision that guided the Foundation’s establishment and the responsibility it has undertaken in education. “Ten years ago, we embarked on this journey because we believed that a new voice needed to rise in the field of education around the world. That voice needed to be heard because, above all, we have responsibilities toward the new generations who will build the future,” he stated.
Emphasizing that they regard education as a field of international solidarity, Özdil underlined their commitment to an approach that respects the knowledge and experiences of different societies. He stated that their guiding principle is to develop sincere, long-term partnerships based on mutual trust with the countries in which they operate, placing children's futures at the center of these relationships.
Özdil drew attention to the fact that hundreds of millions of children worldwide are still deprived of educational opportunities due to irresponsibility, indifference, poverty, political instability, migration, war, colonialism, and genocide. He stressed that this situation makes it essential to develop a new approach to education and assume a shared responsibility toward future generations.
Referring to the international reach achieved by Turkish Maarif Foundation over the past decade, Özdil said, “Ten years ago, we set out to raise a new voice in the world. Today, that voice echoes in sixty-six countries, in countless languages, in minds and hearts.”
In his speech, Özdil also criticized one-sided approaches to education and perspectives that disregard societies’ own cultural heritage and intellectual traditions. He stated:
“We must question a system that tells children their own language cannot be a language of science, that their own history and intellectual traditions have nothing to contribute to humanity, that their culture can only be a subject of research conducted by others, and, in short, that everything belonging to them is outdated and must be left behind. We must question a system that says, ‘Now be silent, sit down, and let the light of my knowledge enlighten you,’ assigning some the perpetual role of masters and others the role of apprentices who never cease to be apprentices.”
President Erdoğan: “The Success of Turkish Maarif Foundation Is a Source of Pride for Us All”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan began his address by thanking the employees who have contributed to the activities of Turkish Maarif Foundation over the past ten years. Congratulating all members of the Foundation who have carried Türkiye’s educational vision to different parts of the world since its establishment, President Erdoğan expressed his hope that the Foundation’s 10th anniversary would bring blessings to the Turkish nation, the communities with which Türkiye shares close historical and cultural ties, and all humanity.
Noting that Turkish Maarif Foundation embarked on its journey ten years ago with ambitious goals, President Erdoğan emphasized that the Foundation now operates in 66 countries across six continents. He highlighted that more than 75,000 students receive quality education at 611 institutions worldwide, describing the achievements of the past decade as an important source of pride for Türkiye.
Referring to the opportunities provided by Turkish Maarif Foundation to children and young people across different regions, President Erdoğan stated:
“Our Maarif Foundation offers new opportunities to children and young people living in different parts of the world, from Asia to Africa and from the Balkans to the Caucasus. We equip them with knowledge and prepare them for life in every respect. At the same time, we enable these children to establish strong and sincere bonds with different cultures. Through our schools, dormitories, universities, research centers, and educational institutions, we bring Türkiye’s educational experience to different continents.
We wholeheartedly believe that, in the very near future, the young people studying at Maarif institutions will successfully serve their own countries in every field and help shape the future of their homelands. In this respect, I would particularly like to emphasize that I find it highly appropriate for the 10th anniversary program to be organized under the title ‘10 Years Building the Future.’”
“Our Country Is Now a Global Player”
Addressing the country representatives of Turkish Maarif Foundation serving in 66 countries, President Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s growing capacity in international education and the increasing interest in Turkish universities. He made the following remarks regarding Türkiye’s international position in education:
“Interest in Turkish universities has grown exponentially every year. While the number of international students in our country was around 48,000 ten years ago, this year it has approached 380,000.
It has now become commonplace to encounter doctors, politicians, businesspeople, bureaucrats, teachers, artists, and academics who graduated from Türkiye in the countries where you serve. In many countries around the world, we meet numerous people who speak Turkish, know and understand Türkiye, and follow Turkish culture with great interest.
What is even more gratifying is that this vision is being carried to different corners of the world through Turkish Maarif Foundation.
Today, on the one hand, we provide quality education to more than 24 million students, from preschool to higher education. On the other hand, through institutions such as our Maarif Foundation, we make the strong capacity we have built in international education available to our friends and brotherly nations.
This is an achievement that could not even have been imagined 25 years ago. Those who target our Maarif Foundation may not understand what this means, but you and I know very well what this vision represents.
Although those who view the world and Türkiye through the eyes of others may still have failed to recognize it, our country is now a global player.”
President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye has reached a new level not only in the defense industry, diplomacy, tourism, and foreign trade, but also in international education. He emphasized that the efforts of Turkish Maarif Foundation personnel play an important role in advancing these achievements further.
Noting that the activities carried out through Turkish Maarif Foundation and Yunus Emre Institute are not based on a one-sided approach, Erdoğan stressed that respecting each country’s history, language, culture, and educational traditions is one of their fundamental principles.
Emphasizing that colonialism has no place in Türkiye’s history, President Erdoğan stated that relations established with different societies are based on mutual respect and the preservation of cultural values. He pointed out that, throughout history, communities living in different regions were able to preserve their identities, whereas many societies under the domination of Western colonial powers experienced immense suffering and saw their cultural heritage destroyed.
Referring to the cultural losses suffered during these periods, President Erdoğan said, “Hundreds of local languages disappeared, cultural elements were destroyed, and collective memory was erased.”
He emphasized that differences in people's skin colors and languages are manifestations of the power of Allah's creation. President Erdoğan stated that no individual should face discrimination on the basis of language, culture, skin color, ethnic origin, or belief, adding that Türkiye’s international approach is founded on this understanding.
President Erdoğan Thanks Maarif Employees
President Erdoğan also reflected on the establishment of Turkish Maarif Foundation, recalling that ten years ago Türkiye set out to place its educational activities abroad within a strong, reliable, and institutional framework.
Stating that the Foundation assumed significant responsibilities during this process, Erdoğan noted that addressing the problems caused by FETÖ’s educational network abroad was among its primary tasks.
President Erdoğan stated that, following the July 15 coup attempt, joint efforts by the relevant institutions resulted in the complete or partial closure of FETÖ-linked schools in more than 50 countries.
Highlighting the significant role played by Turkish Maarif Foundation in taking over these educational institutions, Erdoğan stressed that the utmost care was taken to ensure that students were not adversely affected and that their education continued without interruption.
President Erdoğan emphasized that the Foundation’s achievements owe much to the dedicated efforts of its employees serving in different countries. He stated that members of Turkish Maarif Foundation have established strong bonds of affection and friendship with the communities in the regions where they serve.
Drawing attention to the sacrifices of Maarif employees who have turned distant lands into places that feel like home and carried the spirit of their homeland wherever they go, Erdoğan congratulated every member of the Maarif family working with great dedication in different corners of the world.
Maarif Awards 2026 Presented to Their Recipients
The program, which highlighted the ten-year educational journey of Turkish Maarif Foundation, continued with the presentation of the Maarif Awards 2026. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife, Emine Erdoğan, presented the awards to the students selected as recipients of the Maarif Awards 2026.
The program concluded with a commemorative group photograph following the award ceremony.
