A graduation ceremony was held at Türkiye's Embassy in Damascus for 28 Syrian high school students who returned to Syria after completing their education in Türkiye. The ceremony was attended by the students' families, Türkiye's Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yılmaz and education adviser Muhammed Musa Budak.
Yılmaz said the diplomas were important for strengthening Türkiye-Syria relations. He said the diplomas protected the rights of students who had studied in Türkiye for an extended period and announced that the graduates could continue their education in Türkiye or Syria.
Pre-registration completed for Turkish school in Damascus
Budak said the opening of the Turkish school in Damascus, which will provide education from kindergarten through high school, was approaching. He said pre-registration had been completed and classes would begin within one or two weeks. Budak added that similar schools were planned to open in Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia and Homs in the future.
Yılmaz also said a Turkish school would open in Syria and that Maarif schools affiliated with Türkiye's Ministry of National Education would begin operating next year. Saying that educational cooperation was continuing, Yılmaz stated that holding the graduation ceremony at the embassy demonstrated the importance the state attached to education.
The ambassador also noted that work was being carried out in the coming period to establish examination centers and facilitate logistical processes.
Budak said the graduates had received the first diplomas issued in Syria under Turkish open education programs. He said the program, implemented in coordination with Türkiye's Ministry of National Education, was offered in more than 25 countries in addition to Türkiye.
Budak said the open education program provided important support to Syrian students who faced problems with educational infrastructure and difficulties adapting when they returned to their country after the regime was overthrown. He said the program addressed this need.
Turkish language departments to open in Aleppo and Damascus
Budak said cultural ties between Türkiye and Syria were also developing. He announced that the Turkish Language Department at Aleppo University would reopen and that a Turkish Language Department would be established in Damascus for the first time. Budak said the students and graduates would build bridges between the two countries in the long term.
Ahmed Muhibbiddin, one of the graduates, said returning to Syria after the regime was overthrown had been very difficult for students. Saying that he was happy to have graduated successfully, Muhibbiddin thanked the education advisory office at the embassy for providing the opportunities needed to continue their education.
Şeyma Raciha said she had moved to Mersin after the earthquake disaster and that her first period in Türkiye had been difficult. Saying that she learned Turkish through work and effort, Raciha announced that she planned to study Islamic sciences at university in Damascus and thanked Türkiye on behalf of the students.
