Teachers' Day celebrated across the nation amid economic woes

Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with the group of teachers from 81 provinces and with Ankara Governor Kemal Önal as part of Teachers' Day celebrations. The group laid a wreath at Atatürk's tomb. Writing in the Anıtkabir guestbook, Çubukçu said she, Turkey's first female minister of education, is working hard, with commitment and determination and in accordance with the ideals of the Republic of Turkey. The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and the Ministry of Education also held a program marking Teachers' Day at the ministry. Successful teachers and students were given plaques and gifts. The program also included a concert by singer Kutsi.

Students in the eastern province of Hakkari did not have the luxury of going to the town center, 10 kilometers from their school, so their present to their teachers was walnuts filled with love.

A ceremony marking Teachers’ Day was held at the Taksim Republic Monument in İstanbul with the participation of İstanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Altıntaş, İstanbul Education Department head Muammer Yıldız and teachers from the northern province of Ordu. Following a laying of wreathes at the monument, one minute of silence was observed for teachers and Atatürk. Yıldız also wrote a message in the monument’s memorial guestbook.

A concert was held in Bursa by the orchestra of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality to celebrate the Teachers’ Day of retired teachers in the province with the participation of Bursa authorities, including Bursa Mayor Recep Altepe and Deputy Governor Ali Kamil Başar. The concert brought Mayor Altepe with one of his teachers as a surprise to Altepe.

The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality gave gifts to teachers in the province, including a note from İzmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu, in honor of Teachers’ Day.

In a program held at the Konevi Cultural Center in Konya, an educational association, the Gaye Education Volunteers’ Association, brought teachers together. Artist İbrahim Sadri read poems and sang his songs during the program.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party (DP) leader Hüsamettin Cindoruk stressed in a message that the profession of teaching had never been fully appreciated in Turkey. He also congratulated all of Turkey’s teachers. Nov. 24 marks the day when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, was declared the nation’s head teacher 81 years ago and the day was adopted as Teachers’ Day nationwide.