As part of the ongoing cooperation between the Ministry of Education (MEB) and Türksat, the renewed contract, in regards to providing schools internet services via satellite, was further expanded.
Türksat and the Ministry of Education General Directorate of Innovation and Educational Technologies signed a contract at a ceremony held at the Başöğretmen Hall located at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education.
At the ceremony, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Ömer Fatih Sayan stated that countries will strengthen if we raise intelligent, ethical and virtuous individuals, and that the only way to do so is to build the education system on sound foundations.
Sayan underlined the fact that they are offering opportunities for education to adapt to technology, and that great progress has been made in the field of education. Sayan continued his speech as follows:
Especially regarding the emphasize made by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the integration of education with technology and because of the 2023 Vision for Education, which he emphasized that the basis of education is fundamentally a human matter, different opportunities have been offered to our children, who are our future. Again, as stated by our President, the real matter is to protect our perspective of civilization. While doing so, we won’t lose touch with ourselves while trying to keep up with the universe, or lose sight of the world while trying to protect the present. In this matter, our biggest helper is the information technologies that will provide us with all the information of the world.
“There will not be a single school left which does not have internet access”
Ministry of Education Deputy Minister Reha Denemeç said that it is not possible for the new generation to compete with the rest of the world if they do not have access to information.
Denemeç noted that two-thirds of schools have been equipped with smart boards, and that great effort in line with the 2023 Vision for Education was being made in regards to investments, that will give children the best skills.
Denemeç pointed out the cost to provide internet lines to certain regions of Turkey is very high. He added:
The lack of internet is as important as the lack of electricity. This means you cannot access information. Establishments like Türksat have satellites orbiting in space. We will be able to provide internet access through them. We have provided some, about half of them with internet. At present, about 5,100 schools will have access to internet via satellite in the near future. This way there will not be a school who does not have internet access.
After the speeches, an agreement was signed between the two establishments.