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Turkey expands summer school and youth programs

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2026-08-05 15:04 UTC → 2026-08-07 13:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Ministry of National Education renewed its protocol with the Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) through 2030, assigning thousands of state schools to the foundation for sports, cultural, scientific and artistic programmes, including Qur’an and basic religious lessons. Critics warned the extension breaches a 2021 Danıştay ruling and undermines secular education. The nationwide TÜGVA Yaz Okulu opened on 6 July in all 81 provinces, attracting about 550,000 applications from fourth‑grade primary and middle‑school pupils. The six‑week, free programme mixes religious instruction, sports such as football, basketball, swimming and archery, and cultural activities. Local officials attended openings in Bilecik, Eskişehir, Kocaeli and Konya, where additional camps offer academic tutoring, arts, values education and Qur’an studies. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the 30th anniversary of the Turkey Youth and Education Service Foundation (TÜRGEV) in Istanbul, highlighting its dormitory, scholarship and Erasmus programmes and warning against “LGBT‑like ideologies” influencing youth. The Kayseri Science Center ran robotics and coding academies for primary students, while the TÜBİTAK Village Schools Support Program brought science activities to rural schools nationwide. Sports schools enrolled more than 12,000 children in Konya and 1,000 in Sinop, offering 25 disciplines from athletics to taekwondo. The summer programme concluded with a finale in Samsun on 5 August, where over 12,300 participants gathered for performances, Qur’an recitations and award presentations. In July, the Denizli Science Center hosted summer science camps with workshops in basic science, robotics and coding for children aged 4‑13, supported by TÜBİTAK’s Summer Academy. Balıkesir University’s “Hayata Dokunanlar” initiative offered free health screenings and first‑aid training to prospective students and families. Meanwhile, the Battalgazi municipality concluded its month‑long summer school for 5th‑8th graders with a festival at Kırkgöz Sahil Park, featuring Quranic studies, values education, cultural outings to historic sites and recreational activities.

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