TİKA Continues to Support Turkish Education in North Macedonia

Within the “10 Fundamental Works Project,” implemented by the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), 10,000 books (1,000 sets) were distributed to 64 school libraries where the education is provided in Turkish across 28 municipalities in North Macedonia.

As part of the project, whose first stage was completed in 2020 and the second in 2022, a total of 20,000 books in two sets were distributed. This year, the third stage of the project was implemented in cooperation with the Association of Zor as well. Within the scope of the project, the “10 Fundamental Works – Set 3,” prepared with Turkish books used as supplemental resources in primary schools according to the plan and program of the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia, was delivered to students of schools providing education in Turkish across the country.

The closing ceremony of the project was held at the Gostivar Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Primary School. TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, Mehmet Bayrak; the State Advisor of the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia, Gönül Bayraktar; the President of MATÜSİTEB (The Union of Turkic Non-Governmental Organizations of Macedonia), Tahsin İbrahim; the Principal of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Primary School, Nuri Mazlam; the President of the Association of Zor, Hacer Sulooca; the owner of Yeni Balkan Publishing House, Mürteza Sulooca, teachers and students attended the delivery ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Association of Zor, Hacer Sulooca stated that a total of 30,000 books in 3 sets have been distributed so far with the support of TİKA and the organization of Yeni Balkan Publishing House and the Association of Zor. She expressed her gratitude to TİKA, noting that it was not an easy process and they could not have achieved it without Türkiye’s support.

Stating that they pay special attention to education while implementing projects, TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, Mehmet Bayrak pointed out that they have supported 376 projects and activities in the education field in the Republic of North Macedonia so far. He also underlined that projects carried out in the education field are direct investments in the country’s future.

Following the program, students read excerpts of the poems and stories in the books.