251 million children lack access to education, Turkish first lady says

Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan revealed at the 5th Istanbul Education Summit on Friday that 251 million children and young people worldwide still lack access to education, citing the 2024 Global Education Monitoring Report. Speaking under the summit's theme "Healing the World Through Education," Erdogan emphasized the stark inequality, noting that while only 3% of children in high-income countries are out of school, the figure soars to 33% in low-income nations.

Summit Gathering and Philosophical Vision

The two-day summit, organized by the Turkish Maarif Foundation with Anadolu Agency as a communication partner, brought together policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives. In her opening address, Erdogan framed education as a force to "nourish humanity’s soul, heal its wounds, and illuminate darkness," arguing that justice depends on universal access to learning. She was joined by Syrian First Lady Latifa Al-Droubi, Turkish National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, and Maarif Foundation head Mahmut Ozdil.

Syrian First Lady's Testimony on War's Impact

Syria's First Lady, Latifa Al-Droubi, provided a poignant account of education amidst conflict, lamenting that thousands of schools were destroyed during Syria's 13-year civil war and one in three Syrian children still cannot access education. She described children studying in roofless buildings and doing homework by candlelight, yet insisted that "talent cannot be destroyed" and expressed hope for Syria's renewal through science and international cooperation.

Diplomatic Outreach and Summit Objectives

Following the summit, Emine Erdogan noted on social media that she had met with the Syrian first lady, expressing hope for strengthened "bonds of friendship" that contribute to peace and stability in the region. The summit's first-day sessions focused on education's strategic role in addressing global challenges and building a better world, reinforcing Türkiye's soft-power diplomacy and its commitment to positioning education as a cornerstone of humanitarian and developmental policy.