Istanbul schools allocated for use of pro-Erdoğan foundation during summer
TÜGVA, an Islamist foundation which has President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's son Bilal Erdoğan on its advisory board, will use the spaces of 238 schools across Istanbul to hold trainings for students. Among the trainings to be held are also Quran courses.
Duvar English
Some 238 schools across Istanbul have been allocated during summer for the use of Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), an Islamist foundation with close ties to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
On May 23, TÜGVA sent a letter to that Istanbul Provincial Education Directorate, demanding it use 238 schools and their sports halls between June 16 – July 28, according to reporting by the daily Birgün. The Istanbul Governor’s Office approved of this demand.
In its letter, TÜGVA reportedly said that it will use the schools’ conference halls, classrooms, ateliers and labs for its trainings, including Quran courses, for middle and high school students as part of a protocol previously struck with the Education Ministry.
Schools will reportedly encourage teachers, students and even parents to participate in the TÜGVA workshops.
The foundation said that the protocol was signed within the context of “TÜGVA Istanbul Summer School project” and this year the trainings will be held for the sixth time.