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KABUL (SW): The government on Monday handed over control of the Afghan – Turk Schools to the Ankara government after a unanimous decision by the committee tasked to look into the matter.
The government committee comprised of representatives from the ministries of education, commerce, foreign affairs, justice and the National Directorate of Security as well as the National Security Council.
Turkish Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz and his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Ibrahim Shinwari attended a handover ceremony at the Media and Information Center in capital Kabul. Ismet said on the occasion that the Turkish government would invest into increasing the numbers of these schools, and provide fellowships to the children of Afghan martyrs.
Kabir Haqmal, head of communications at the Ministry of Education, has said this move is in favor of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, a committee of the students’ families has criticized the move. Hours after the announcement of handing over the control of these schools to Turkey, they held a protest demonstration in Kabul, and vowed to take to the streets against the decision.
The Afghan – Turk Schools have been operational in Afghanistan for the past 20 year, and are considered as one of the finest in the country.
Turkey established the Maarif Foundation in 2016 to take over the administration of overseas schools allegedly linked to the U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen who is blamed to have orchestrated the failed coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.
ENDS
