African Union president demands more Turkish schools
The Gulen Movement’s (Hizmet’s) activities globally continue to gain the support of locals – both at a grass roots level and from officials. The below article highlights the positive impression the schools have left in the hearts and minds of the African people. So much so that the African Union President has requested more school projects in the continents.
African Union President and Equatorial Guinea Foreign Minister Eustaquio Nseng Esono, speaking to Today’s Zaman on Sunday, said he would like to see the number of Turkish schools on the African continent rise…..Expressing their satisfaction regarding these Turkish schools, Esono said, “These Turkish schools should be established in all provinces in all African countries; the current number of schools doesn’t satisfy us at all.” Read rest of the story
Pakistan’s 34 year old Foreign Minister has heaped praise on Turkey, and in particular the NGO based organizations in Pakistan who are inspired by Fethullah Gulen that have accomplished great success through the numerous schools…
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, who attended a conference of developing countries D-8 that took place on Wednesday in Nigeria, visited Turkish educational institutions that were opened in the country. These institutions are Nigerian Turkish International College and Nigerian Turkish Nile University. Both institutions are considered remarkable establishments that provide high quality education. On his Twitter account Arinc shared his thoughts of Turkish schools in Nigeria. “I am proud of the achievements of Turkish schools in the international arena.” He wrote the following about the Nigerian Turkish International College: “I was told that this school had a 93 percent success rate for passing the university entrance exam this year.” 
Necasi Turkish schools are educational establishments representing 
“Education is different from teaching.” states the M. Fethullah Gulen, and continues: “Most human beings can be teachers but the number of educators is severely limited.”. The difference between the two lies in that both teachers and educators impart information and teach skills, but the educator is one who has the ability to assist the students’ personalities to emerge, who fosters thought and reflection, who builds character and enables the student to interiorize qualities of self-discipline, tolerance, and a sense of mission. Fethullah Gulen describes those who simply teach in order to receive a salary, with no interest in the character formation of the students as “the blind leading the blind.” 
Since 1994 Fethullah Gulen inspired Ishik (Light) schools have been providing remedy for a conflict torn Iraq by advocating peaceful coexistence, dialogue and peace. Children of many different ethnic backgrounds, cultures and religions are happy to attend Ishik schools because they not only give high quality education but also provide ‘a spirit of camaraderie’ to everyone. In fact, Ishik schools are the only institutions in Iraq that admit students from all backgrounds. Students and their parents are also happy by the fact that Ishik schools teach four languages. At present there are 20 Turkish schools which accommodate about 6500 students. Schools operate beyond their capacity as their popularity is increasing day by day. 
Visiting a kindergarten and Isik University established in Iraqi province of Arbil Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu praised the efforts of Turkish volunteers who make immense contributions to education of Iraqi youth. She mentioned that graduates of Gulen inspired Turkish schools not only become professional experts playing great role in the socio-economic development of Iraq, but also contribute to establishment of peace, love and tolerance in the country and broader regions. Moreover, Turkish educational efforts in Iraq promote strengthening of brotherly ties between Turkey and Iraq. Cubukcu expressed big hope that in the future Turkish investments in Iraqi education will increase. 
It is well known that Fethullah Gulen inspired schools have become very prestigious and respectable educational establishments wherever they were opened. In Africa Turkish schools enjoy especially high popularity. Turkish schools provide such a superior education and have earned such a big trust that many African top officials prefer to send their children to these schools. Foreign Trade Minister of Turkey Zafer Caglayan shares that during his visit to African countries “every minister he met asked for more schools” to be established in the region. 
Once again Turkish schools demonstrated that they are working hard to provide an advanced technology-oriented high quality education to their students. The students of Turkish Pinnacle Academy received award in the National Engineers Week Future City Competition that took place in Washington DC in February with their project of a digital and three-dimensional imaginary city that anticipates the accommodation needs of citizens who lose their homes during an earthquake. The achievement of Pinnacle Academy’s bright students was honored by US president Obama. 
