The 13th International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC) held in Germany offered a moving closing ceremony over the weekend that included calls on Turkey to broaden its horizon — given the continuing inner turmoil in the country — so that it can see “lights of love and tolerance” spread across the globe.
The talents of 360 students from 46 schools were on display for the crowd of 10,000 gathered at Westfallenahlle complex. The opening ceremony featured figurines symbolizing prominent capitals across the globe including Brussels, Paris and Berlin.
African Heads of states and religious leaders have launched the ‘African Initiative on Education for Peace and Development through Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue’ in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Patricia Dalde Linogao from the Philippines won the 13th International Language and Culture Festival’s prestigious prize for singing on Sunday night before a crowd of thousands in the Romanian capital Bucharest, beating 14 competitors from various countries.
The Turkish president, who has not ceased making unsubstantiated allegations against his perceived opponents, had during his official visit to Albania called for the closure of the Turkish schools in the country, claiming that the schools were established by a terrorist organization.
On the latest stop of his world tour to disparage Turkish schools abroad, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asked Albanians to shut down schools that boast scores of Albanian alumni, accusing the institutions of being part of a terrorist organization.
Welcoming the students of the Yavuz Selim Education Institutions after their success in international competitions, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, the industry and mines minister of Senegal, said the students of the Turkish schools are encouraging hope for the future of the country.
Turkish schools established by educational volunteers affiliated with a movement inspired by teachings of Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen receive widespread praise due to the quality of education they provide internationally, but for months they have been targeted by the Turkish president.
In the latest round of a debate surrounding the Turkish schools in Albania, President Bujar Nishani dismissed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s request to shut schools down because of their links to the faith-based Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement.
Albanian Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri has said his country’s relevant authorities gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the necessary responses to his recent request for the closure of Turkish schools in the country.