The 5th Istanbul Education Summit opened in Istanbul with a strong call to make education a force for healing, justice and global equity. Held at the Atatürk Cultural Center and organized by the Turkish Maarif Foundation (TMF), the summit brings together first lady Emine Erdoğan, Syria’s first lady Latifa al-Droubi, and education ministers from multiple countries for two days of panels, youth sessions and ministerial dialogues.
Emine Erdoğan, addressing the opening session, warned of a world where knowledge is increasingly misused, saying that artificial intelligence and advanced technology have been turned into instruments of war, especially against children in Gaza. She stressed that wisdom and conscience must guide scientific progress and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to an education model rooted in moral leadership and cultural respect rather than domination.
Speaking directly to the Syrian first lady, she highlighted shared efforts to rebuild Syria’s educational system through Maarif Foundation initiatives and said education must erase the wounds left by war. She described Türkiye’s global educational outreach as an act of goodwill, one that seeks to uplift societies rather than exploit them.
Citing UNESCO’s 2024 Global Education Monitoring Report, she drew attention to the 251 million children still out of school, warning that global justice cannot be achieved while such disparities persist. She expressed hope that the summit will outline a renewed roadmap for equitable learning worldwide.
A storytelling moment deeply moved the audience when Abdoul Rachid, a survivor of the 2021 Niger school fire, appeared on stage with the wooden slate he saved from the flames and presented it to Emine Erdoğan in appreciation.
Syria’s first lady Latifa al-Droubi praised the resilience of Syrian children who continued learning despite destroyed schools and years of displacement. She described Syria as a nation rebuilding its educational, cultural, and social institutions “from the ashes of darkness,” emphasizing that attempts to break the spirit of its youth had failed. She noted that Syrian educators now operate over a thousand schools worldwide, serving more than 125,000 children.
Al-Droubi said today’s concept of education goes far beyond classrooms, evolving into a system that builds capacity, strengthens societies and shapes future-ready generations. She thanked Türkiye for its decade-long support to millions of Syrians.
TMF President Mahmut Özdil highlighted the Foundation’s presence in 64 countries, operating a wide network of schools, colleges, dormitories and vocational centers. He stressed that Maarif’s mission is not simply to open institutions but to rethink educational philosophies and build an approach that transforms pain into responsibility and shared progress.
He pointed to long-term projects such as the Turkish Maarif Encyclopedia and the summit itself as key elements of this vision. Citing Türkiye’s broader development contribution, he noted that over 7,000 people in 31 countries received training through institutions like TIKA and Diyanet in 2022.
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Özdil described the Foundation’s goal as empowering students to grow freely, cultivate conscience and justice, and develop the courage to question outdated assumptions. He said the ultimate aim is to shape individuals who carry hope and responsibility into the future.