Mardin Provincial Education Director Muhammed Öztürk told the Anatolia news agency that the school had been requested by the residents of the village and that construction had started in July.Öztürk said kindergarteners and first graders will have classes at the school and that informal education, including literacy classes, will also be delivered to women and young people from the village at the school.
The school has four classrooms and will fulfill an important mission, Öztürk said. “After the tragic incident, the importance of education has become paramount. This school is a symbol that the loathsome mindset responsible for the tragedy can only be overcome through education. We commenced classes at the school last week. Our school will serve 14 students in kindergarten and 20 students in the first grade. Fourteen students from sixth, seventh and eighth grades will continue their education at a school in Sultan village.”
Abdurrahman Çelebi, the muhtar (local head) of Bilge village, said the old school, which is located two kilometers away, did not meet the needs of the people. As a consequence they had asked officials, including State Minister for Family and Women’s Affairs Selma Aliye Kavaf, who visited the village after the massacre, if a new school could be built.
Education is of the utmost importance for the village, Öztürk said, and they are happy that their request for a school has been fulfilled. “The education of our children is more important than anything for us. The previous school was a little far from the village, and to resolve the problem of transportation in harsh winter conditions and for our children to receive their education nearby, we requested a new school.”
