Turkish language trainings start for adult Syrians under Temporary Protection in Turkey, within the framework of “Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP)”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded by the European Union (EU). Through the Project, it is aimed to provide Turkish language trainings to 52,000 adult Syrians at 53 Public Education Centers in 10 provinces of Turkey. The “Adult Language Training Component” of the Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP) is being implemented in collaboration with the General Directorate of Lifelong Learning of the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MoNE - GDLL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

25 March 2019, Ankara – Turkish Language trainings start for adult Syrians under Temporary Protection in Turkey, within the perspective of “Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP)”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Through Public Education Centers (PECs) in 10 provinces of Turkey (Adana, Bursa, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kilis, Konya, Mersin and Şanlıurfa), it is aimed to provide quality Turkish language trainings to 52,000 adult Syrians to support their integration into economic, social and cultural life. The Project is fully funded by the European Union (EU).

Turkish language trainings which have started today for adults aim to promote economic integration of Syrians above 18 years residing in Turkey, and contribute to their social and cultural cohesion. In this context, courses have been designed based on the four basic language skills identified in the European Language Portfolio - reading, listening, speaking and writing - in a manner to provide Syrians under Temporary Protection with the language skills they will need in order to support their participation in economic, social and cultural life. It is further aimed that 50% of the trainees will be Syrian women. The objective is thereby to promote the participation of Syrian women in economic and social life, as well.

Four every level, the trainings will be implemented as 3 hours for 3 days in a week for a term of 10 weeks, and deliver A1, A2 and B1 level Turkish language courses to Syrians aged 18 to 57 under Temporary Protection in Turkey. To that end, special training contents have been prepared that are appropriate for the new framework programmes and take varying levels into account.

Under the Project, a “Blended Training” model, combining classroom and online learning programmes and Learning Management System have also been developed and commissioned for the first time in Turkey. The new system combines the content which trainees can remotely access through e-learning and the face-to-face classroom trainings at PECs. Thus, trainees will attend classroom lessons at 53 Centers in 10 provinces, as well as remotely attend the lessons using electronic devices such as computers, smart phones, tablets etc. The new model does not require participants to have constant Internet connection. Learning Management System, together with the Blended Training Model, will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the trainings, facilitate learning and interaction, and transfer recent innovations in the educational world to Turkey to enhance its capacities.

The Turkish language trainings for adults will be delivered by master trainers assigned to PECs in the provinces where the Project is being implemented. Since the inception of the Project on 1 February 2018, a total of 283 master trainers have been trained, of whom 68% are women. Infrastructural and technical support is also being provided to 53 PECs in 10 provinces under the Project. Additionally, a new PEC is being built at Şehitkamil district of Gaziantep.

UNDP had provided language skills trainings to Syrians in its previous projects. This new Project significantly scales up the efforts through a blended learning approach consisting of classroom and online learning; setting a first of its kind in Turkey. The new Project will promote the access of women and youth to labor markets and contribute to socio-economic empowerment of individuals and communities.

Studies show that language is the biggest barrier for Syrians under Temporary Protection in Turkey to participating in economic, social and cultural life, since they need to learn a new language to achieve self-sufficiency and fully participate in daily life. The Turkish language trainings therefore present a significant opportunity to Syrians to build resilience, develop new jobs and livelihoods, contribute to economy and interact with their local neighbors.

Through a resilience-based, local and sustainable development perspective, the Project proposes long-term, comprehensive structural solutions to the problems arising due to the Syrian crisis. Centered on economic integration, social cohesion, local capacity enhancement and regional development, Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP) combines UNDP’s 50 years of expertise in sustainable development and EU’s financial support.

The two-year project with €50m budget focuses on promoting jobs creation, strengthening local capacities and municipal services and delivering Turkish language trainings for Syrians in 11 provinces of Turkey. The Project will benefit 2,000 Syrians and host community members for employment and livelihoods, 52,000 Syrians for Turkish language trainings, and more than 307,000 Syrians and host community members for improved municipal services. UNDP collaborates with chambers of industry and commerce to support economic activities, achieve sustainable development and facilitate access to labor markets.

For additional information: Faik Uyanık, Chief of Communications, UNDP Turkey. faik.uyanik@undp.org

E.Ruşen İnceoğlu, Communications Expert, UNDP Turkey’s Syrian Crisis Response and Resilience Programme rusen.inceoglu@undp.org