A new assistance package worth €400 million has been approved by the European Commission for the education of Syrian refugees in Turkey. This funding will be given in the form of a direct grant to the Turkish Ministry of National Education of Turkey for the continuation of the current education project for Syrian refugees in Turkey which will expire in October 2018.
The package aims to ensure the sustainability of activities for the period after EU Facility funding has ended. It will focus on outreach, increased quality of formal education for students, Turkish language training for adults in Public Education Centres, the continuation and improvement of the examination system, and social cohesion activities.
Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn said, “With the endorsement of the second tranche of funding by EU Member States, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to support Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey. The approval of this new assistance package is proof of this, allowing for the smooth continuation of our support in addressing the needs of both students and teachers.”
This is the first action adopted following the agreement by EU Member States to finance an additional €3 billion for the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. The duration of the new assistance is also longer than the previous package, covering three academic years rather than two.