Pakistan: Turkish group vows tuition cut at schools

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Former terrorist-linked schools in Pakistan taken over by Turkey’s Maarif Foundation will have their tuition reduced, the Turkish education body announced on Friday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Selahattin Batur, Pakistan country director for the Maarif Foundation, said that local staff would also get raises.

On Thursday, the foundation assumed the management of all educational institutions in Pakistan once linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 failed coup in Turkey.

"We will improve the quality of education in the schools and provide more facilities to the students and also provide scholarships to the students as well," Batur said.

“We have already prepared our road map for the smoothest transition of these schools to the foundation and presented the opportunities provided by the foundation to Pakistani students,” he added.

- Terror group banned

Last month, Pakistan’s top court ordered the government to declare FETO and associated groups as outlawed and banned its affiliated schools in the country.

The court also ordered the government to hand over all these schools to the Turkish government.

The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of all FETO's "movable and immovable assets" at schools, collages, education centers, and other similar entities to the Maarif Foundation.

After the top court decision, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry declared the Pak-Turk Cag Education Foundation a terrorist organization and banned its activities in the country.

"Now these education institutions will be operated by the Turkish Maarif Foundation, a government organization, and we will not compromise on standards or quality of education in these schools," vowed Batur.

The Maarif Foundation intends to introduce scholarships in Turkish universities, a teacher training program, and capacity-building at various schools.

"We will establish more educational facilities in Pakistan," Batur added.

The foundation's operations will not only revitalize education in Pakistan but will also enhance socio-culture ties between Ankara and Islamabad.

- Defeated coup and schools abroad

Turkey established the Maarif Foundation in 2016 to assume the administration of overseas schools linked to FETO. It also establishes more schools and education centers abroad.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including the military, police, and academia.

FETO has a considerable presence abroad, including private schools serving as a revenue stream for the terror group.