The Turkish Education Association was founded on 31 January 1928, under the leadership of Atatürk, in the building where the First Grand National Assembly met. It was the Republic’s first civil society organization in the field of education. TED supports the schooling of successful children who do not have sufficient financial means. It holds a contemporary and progressive vision: to strengthen civic initiative in education, to continue its work at every stage from preschool to higher education across Türkiye and internationally, and to take an active part in protecting and advancing the values of civilization. The founding purpose written into the Association’s first charter — “The Society pursues no political aim, and concerns itself solely with assisting the education and upbringing of the country’s youth.” — is still valid today. The Turkish Education Association carries on its work in loyalty to this principle, as it did then and as it does now.
The mission of the Turkish Education Association
- To found schools that teach in Turkish and in foreign languages, and to open dormitories so that students have a place to live
- To raise highly qualified students in its schools
- To award scholarships across the country to successful children who lack sufficient financial means, so they can continue their education
- To create scholarly platforms that will bring Turkish education standards to a contemporary level
- To raise public awareness of the problems of the education system, and of their solutions, through research projects
- To have a voice in the making of Turkish education policy
Faithful to this mission and to its charter, the Turkish Education Association protects and develops its legacy in every period, and continues its work for equality of opportunity in education. It is a large family of students, parents, sports clubs, alumni associations, thousands of graduates who hold important posts in many different fields in Türkiye, volunteers, and staff. It is a project for the future today, just as it was in the past.
It will always continue to protect and elevate the legacy envisioned by the founding generation of the Republic under Atatürk’s leadership.
Official website of the Turkish Education Association: ted.org.tr