Malian minister praises Turkish schools for persevering through war


Date posted: April 16, 2013

Malian Culture Minister Bruno Maiga has praised Turkish schools, saying only they amongst foreign schools did not leave Mali when a civil war broke out in the country, which has been fighting against rebels in a French-led offensive for four months.
The Malian minister spoke during an event held for the elimination round of the Turkish Olympiads over the weekend. The event was a sigh of relief for the conflict-stricken nation. The competitors were elected out of some 2,200 students from eight schools and took part this weekend in a round to decide who will participate in the Olympiads, held annually in Turkey.

The students displayed their performances — singing and reciting poems in Turkish — in front of a large crowd, which gave a standing ovation for each performance.

Addressing the audience during the event, Minister Maiga said: “We learn who our friends are in difficult times. The Turkish schools here showed what real kinship is by standing by us in our troubled days. While all foreigners were leaving the country, you stayed here and served the Malian people.” He said the Turkish teachers at the schools showed an exemplary form of self-sacrifice in staying in Mali despite the conflict.

The elimination round was held by College Horizon and Galaksi Kültür ve Dialog Merkezi (Galaxy Culture and Dialogue Center) at the largest congress hall in the city. In the song category, eighth-grader Ramata Isse Cisse came in first place singing the well known Turkish song “Elbet Bir Gün Buluşacağız.” Tenth-grader Djenaba Diabete ranked second, performing singer Feridun Düzağaç’s “Düşler Sokağı.” The holder of third place was 10th-grader Balla Moussa Traore, who sang Tarkan’s “Adını Kalbime Yaz.”

Three finalists competed in the poetry category. Baila Ba won the competition and Mamadou Serge came in second place.

Thirty-six students will take part in the Turkish Olympiads in Turkey this year. Twenty-two of these students will participate in the dancing category while the others will be vying for the top prize in the categories of song, poem, public speaking and special talent.

Malian Culture Minister Maiga highlighted the importance of such activities for intercultural dialogue and said, “The world needs international language and culture festivals more than ever.”

The Turkish ambassador to Mali, Kemal Kaygısız, called the Malian students “peace envoys” in remarks to Today’s Zaman.

SourceTodaysZaman, 15 April, 2013


Related News

Exiled Turkish professor ‘leading US university’

Medical scholar branded a ‘terrorist’ by Turkey over his alleged links to a US-based cleric is named head of an institution in Texas. Professor Tekalan is a former rector of Istanbul’s Fatih University.

The 26th meeting of “Covering Turkey:” the past, present and future of prep schools

Medialog platform, which is part of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, has just announced that the 26th meeting of covering Turkey will be held on November 26, 2013 to discuss the past, present and future of prep schools. The meeting will address this highly debated issue in Turkish socio-political context.

Erdogan Moves to Shut Prep Schools in Blow to Gulen Followers

The issue is important to Gulen’s followers, who teach about 400,000 of the 1.2 million prep school students. The schools offer additional training to students preparing for exams from elementary schools to universities.
Erdogan has so far removed thousands of police officers and prosecutors on suspected ties to Gulen’s movement, while pro-government media has targeted companies for alleged links to the cleric.

Report reveals closure of prep schools against Constitution

A recently released report by a think tank based in İstanbul has revealed that the controversial law shutting down Turkey’s private prep schools or “dershanes” includes clauses that violate the Turkish Constitution.

Turkish Schools in Afghanistan organized the eighth annual science competition

Turkish schools in Afghanistan organized a Science Project Competition with in cooperation with TIKA, Turkish Collaboration and Coordination Agency, a state organization. Afghan-Turkish Schools were opened in 1995 and the competition has been organized 8 times organized since 2004. The awards ceremony was held at the Afghan-Turkish School for Girls in Kabul. Yilmaz Aytan, the vice chairman […]

Pak-Turk schools replace Turkish principals with Pakistanis

A source privy to the developments told that the Turkish nationals holding managerial designations will now serve as teachers in Pak-Turk schools. Reportedly, a new six-member BoD with complete local representation had been formed to run the affairs of the school.

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Our three-month ordeal in Turkey’s maximum prison -Nigerian students detained over coup saga

From al-Qaeda to Amsterdam, from İstanbul to Pennsylvania

I am a teacher, not a terrorist

Corruption or spies?

Somali denies allegations that ‘aid supplies did not reach camp’

In Georgia the Shahin Friendship School facing closure – Political influence?

US Court Dismisses Turkey-backed Lawsuit against Fethullah Gülen

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News