Children living in jail with mothers can now attend kindergarten

A protocol to this effect was signed by Education Minister Ömer Dinçer and Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin on Wednesday. The new measures will provide for the free attendance of eligible children in kindergartens affiliated with the Ministry of Education.

Speaking at the protocol ceremony, Dinçer explained that the drive behind the initiative was to ensure that these children could have as normal an existence as possible and remain connected to the outside world. The new protocol, he explained, will directly affect 87 children.

“There are currently 164 children aged 3 or below living with their mothers in prisons in Turkey and 87 children aged between 3 and 6. We have crèche provisions for children below the age of 3, and education provisions are also made for children of primary school age. The only group that was not sufficiently provided for previously was children aged between 3 and 5, but this protocol has solved such concerns,” he said.