October 16, 2024
Maarif School, which has established a solid place for itself in the world of education in the USA, offers education from kindergarten to high school and aims to spread Turkish language education and Turkish culture to students around the world. Appealing not only to Turkish or Muslim families but also to Christian families, Maarif School adopts a multicultural education approach.
Turkish Maarif Foundation is our country's window to the world in international education. Established on 17 June 2016 with Law No. 6721, Turkish Maarif Foundation is an organization authorized to carry out educational activities abroad on behalf of the Republic of Türkiye.
Turkish Maarif Foundation, which works for the public good and does not aim to make profit, carries out all kinds of effective activities from pre-school to higher education, from formal education to non-formal education in all countries.
The Maarif School established by Turkish Maarif Foundation in the United States has established a strong foothold in the world of education in the United States and has been growing rapidly since its launch in 2017, serving the Turkish and local communities. The school aims to provide a quality alternative in education by opening its doors not only to Turkish children but also to students from different cultural backgrounds.
Today, the Maarif School offers a wide range of education from pre-school to high school and aims to spread Turkish language education and Turkish culture to its students in the United States as it does all over the world.
Ahmet Celal Özdemir, Turkish Maarif Foundation's Country Representative in the United States, talked about the mission and vision of the Maarif School to Özlem Özgüt Yörekli, USA Post New York Representative.
Maarif School, which first started its activities in the US with the purchase of a school known as Miraj Academy, operates in 54 countries around the world with 477 educational institutions.
Maarif School brings together different cultures by providing education not only to Turkish students but also to local American students. “30-35 percent of our student distribution here is Turkish, and the rest are local Americans,” Özdemir said.
Maarif School offers courses in accordance with the education legislation in the US. Basic courses such as math, science and geography are taught by American teachers.
The school's education does not only focus on academic achievement; it also attaches great importance to improving students' Turkish language skills. Özdemir said, “Children of Turkish families living in the US often do not speak Turkish well enough. Our education system is geared towards actively teaching Turkish,” Özdemir said.
Maarif School not only teaches Turkish culture but also local legislation. This approach, which allows students to learn their own language and culture, strengthens the school's integration with other educational institutions around the world. Özdemir said, “Our main goal here is to teach Turkish and introduce Turkish culture. Our education is shaped according to the needs of the local community.”
In addition, the school's future goals include not only providing Islamic education, but also operating as charter schools. In this way, they aim to appeal to a wider audience by offering additional courses, such as Turkish classes.
While the school currently operates its curriculum in New Jersey, in the future it plans to open new campuses in different states across America. This expansion aims to increase diversity in education and reach more students.
In addition to academic courses, students also gain in-depth knowledge of Turkish culture, history and music. Maarif School organizes various events to promote Türkiye. October 29th Republic Day and April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day are celebrated on special occasions to strengthen students' ties with Türkiye.
Students live their national values by performing in events such as National Anthem recitation competitions and Quran recitation competitions organized every year. Last year's National Anthem recitation contest was widely covered on the school's social media and the participation of the Consul General increased the importance of the event.
The school's students also participate in Model United Nations events organized by the United Nations every year. In this event, students win prizes by discussing topics such as sustainability and the environment. Last year, 15 students participated in the event and the school won the largest delegation award. This success has helped Maarif School gain an important place among nearly 500 schools around the world.
Maarif School, which offers education from kindergarten to high school, attracts attention with the success of its students in university entrance exams. “In the past years, our students have entered universities with high grades. This proves the quality of our school,” Özdemir said. Students who graduated from Maarif School have been placed in various prestigious schools such as Rutgers, Columbia, Stevens, Montclair Universities, demonstrating the success of Maarif School.
One of the most important goals of the Maarif School is to direct students to universities in Türkiye. “By directing students to Turkish universities, the Maarif School enables them to establish ties with Türkiye,” Özdemir said. Thus, when the graduates return to their home countries, they can develop strong relations with Türkiye.
The school in Bloomfield currently has a capacity of 220-250 students and is currently experiencing an increase in demand with waiting lists. In order to meet these demands and improve the quality of education, the school management has purchased a new campus and will have larger laboratories and training areas while increasing the student capacity to 650.
Maarif School plans to accept international students to improve the quality of education. The school, which is working on a new campus project, aims to accept students from abroad by offering dormitory services. Özdemir said, “We want to accept international students from all countries in the world to study in the US. However, this project has been postponed due to the pandemic and legal processes. We are continuing our accreditation process for this,” Özdemir said.
Prioritizing the success of its students and cultural ties, Maarif School plans to open more Turkish schools in the future. Continuing its mission to promote Türkiye and Turkish culture, the school aims to raise its students as citizens of the world by offering a global education.
The Maarif School in New Jersey has included an artificial intelligence (AI) course in its curriculum, a first among Maarif schools around the world. As a result of the cooperation of the Turkish Maarif Foundation with a curriculum printer company in the US, this year the artificial intelligence course was implemented as a pilot application in various countries. The US Maarif School stands out as one of the four countries offering artificial intelligence education.
School Principal Beyhan Doğan stated that she has been teaching since 2018 and started as principal in 2022. “While our students learn subjects such as coding and electronics in the artificial intelligence course, they will also be able to follow the latest technologies around the world,” Doğan said.
Maarif School is not limited to artificial intelligence courses, but also develops projects to preserve Turkish culture and language. Stating that the school plans to open weekend courses across America for students who want to learn Turkish outside of formal education, Doğan said, “Turkish children living here cannot learn Turkish when they go to American schools. That's why we will organize Turkish courses on weekends,” Doğan said.
Currently, online Turkish classes are provided by the Embassy in Washington. However, the Maarif School will also open Turkish courses on its own premises to gather demand. “Through these courses, we aim to support children who have forgotten Turkish,” Doğan said.
Maarif School continues to raise the leaders of the future with its international achievements and innovative education methods.
