Additional 60,000 children in Türkiye to benefit from School Enrolment Programme 

ANKARA, 30 November, 2022 – Another 60,000 of the most vulnerable refugee children and adolescents in Türkiye will benefit from continued Support for School Enrolment (SSE), which will bring the total number of children to around 185,000 by the end of October 2023. Since its launch in 2019 the programme is made possible with a generous contribution of €20.8 million from the European Union, aiming to increase the number of out-of-school children enrolled in school. 

Of the more than 1.2 million school-aged Syrian refugee children in Türkiye, more than 850,000 are enrolled in school. However, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Education, some 350,000 children are still out of school, leaving them particularly vulnerable to isolation, discrimination, violence, and abuse.   

In coordination with the  Ministry of National Education, The Support for School Enrolment (SSE) programme enables the most vulnerable refugee children in Türkiye to access formal and non-formal education programmes. Outreach teams identify 5- to 17-year-old children, assess their needs, and refer them to specialized services. 

Building on the lessons learned and experiences gained through the previous phase of  EU-funded SSE Programme, UNICEF Türkiye will continue to provide education-focused case management and referral services to vulnerable refugee children and adolescents in eight provinces with a high concentration of refugees through the continuation of SSE Programme.   

“Education is key. It holds the key to a life of less poverty, better health, a more cohesive society and increased civic engagement. Through the Support for School Enrolment (SSE) Programme we support adolescents to have access to relevant education opportunities to develop their skills for learning, personal empowerment, employability and active citizenship. The SSE has created a chance for those refugee children and adolescents that have never attended school or dropped out during primary or lower secondary education by providing alternate pathways to re-enter education and training or for those 15 and over, to develop relevant skills to support transition to the workplace or productive livelihoods” said UNICEF Representative to Türkiye, Ms. Regina De Dominicis.  

Devrig Velly, Head of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations in Türkiye, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic situation have increased the challenges refugees are facing. Access to education has become even more difficult for vulnerable out-of-school children and adolescents, and the risk of drop-out has increased. Together with partners like UNICEF, we promote and protect the right of every child to have access to quality education, and build better and more peaceful future.”