The cooperation protocol signing ceremony between the Ministry of National Education and Gençlerbirliği Club and the opening ceremony of Gençlerbirliği Sports High School were held at İlhan Cavcav Facilities.

 

Pointing out that Gençlerbirliği Club was celebrating its 100th anniversary, Minister Tekin emphasized the importance of the support of political will in the success of such activities carried out by ministries. Tekin expressed his gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who is very sensitive about the success in sports, sports facilities and training athletes and constantly guides them with this regard.

 

Reminding that he served as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports for two years and as Undersecretary at the Ministry of National Education for five and a half years, Tekin explained that they introduced the concept of "project school", which was widely popularized in the public opinion in those years, to the Turkish education literature. Stating that the education curriculum, staff and student selection in these project schools are carried out together with the people in the field, Tekin noted that the first model in this sense was implemented at the football high school in Riva in 2014, when Fatih Terim was the head coach of the National Team.

 

Stating that they developed the curriculum of this school jointly with the Turkish Football Federation, Minister Tekin noted that they benefited from people authorized by the federation in the formation of the teaching staff, and went beyond the general mechanism during the selection process of students.

 

He stated that the volleyball high school they run jointly with the Turkish Volleyball Federation has contributed to the success of women's volleyball and volleyball in Türkiye.

 

Stating that they will expand these schools, Tekin said that they will also cooperate with other federations in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Announcing that they will carry out similar projects in the field of fine arts, Minister Tekin said that they will make fine arts high schools thematic by signing joint protocols with non-governmental organizations and natural and legal entities having influence in the sector. 

 

Minister Tekin pointed out that the football high school Project is a very dynamic project in itself that will constantly follow football and the industry.

 

Stating that one of the biggest criticisms of the public regarding sports in Türkiye is that it leaves children faced with the dilemma of choosing between sports or academic education. Expressing that the project will save students from the sports or academic education dilemma, Tekin wished to raise students whose sporting talents were discovered in time by providing proper training. Minister added that their main goal is to raise an individual who will become a role model for young people after becoming known to the Turkish public in football or any field of sports.

 

Noting that Gençlerbirliği is a 100-year-old plane tree, the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak said that it is very important to create such a beautiful idea together with the Ministry of National Education.

 

Stating that Minister Tekin gave importance to sports high schools during his undersecretary period, Bak continued as follows: "We see the results of these together. There is a volleyball high school nearby. This project went through a successful process. Many athletes trained there have achieved successful results." Stating that they discussed this process and are working on these issues with Minister Tekin, Minister Tekin said that they believe very important athletes will grow up from this high school.

 

Stating that Gençlerbirliği transferred many football players brought from abroad and trained to be transferred to important clubs during the İlhan Cavcav period, Minister Bak underlined that it was a very important process for Arda Güler to be transferred to Fenerbahçe and then to Real Madrid. Stating that the new Arda Gülers will be trained here, Minister Bak said that they are working together with the Ministry of National Education on this issue.

 

Stating that Gençlerbirliği will continue to serve Turkish football, Osman Aşkın Bak said that in the light of his conversations with Sinan Kaloğlu, Gençlerbirliği will return to the Super League again. Emphasizing the investments made in the infrastructure of such an important club, Bak said that a sports high school approach that will develop this infrastructure is highly important. Pointing out that having thematic high schools produces more accurate results, Minister Bak emphasized that it is much more important to do this with a club. Minister Bak said that he believes that Gençlerbirliği will bring new athletes and stars to the infrastructure of Turkish sports.