Minister Tekin attended the introductory meeting of “Professional Orientation Tests” held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of National Education (MEB) Board of Education and Discipline. Speaking here, Tekin said that bureaucratic mechanisms have been built in the sense of public administration. Stating that Türkiye’s thousands of years of state tradition was taken into account when building these mechanisms, Tekin emphasized that the Turkish nation is one of the nations with the most ancient state tradition. “Will the steps we take, without taking into account this intellectual knowledge and experience we have, produce healthy results in our society? We do not look at the issue from this perspective at all.” Making his evaluation, Tekin continued as follows: “When we look at it from this perspective, we need something that takes into account the sensitivities of the society and designs accordingly, in order for the steps we take and all the work we carry out to evolve into the results we want. I have been attaching importance to this since the day I started working at the Ministry of National Education.” Stating that the curriculum was revised under the name of Türkiye Century Education Model as a concrete example of this and that teachers and academicians also contributed, Tekin expressed his gratitude to those who contributed.

“I BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT STEPS WE WILL TAKE IN GUIDING THE PROFESSION WILL MAKE A SERIOUS CONTRIBUTION”

Reminding that the OECD Skills Summit was held in Istanbul last week, Tekin continued: “We met with OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann within the scope of the summit. He congratulated us for the new approaches we developed regarding skills in the Turkey Century Education Model and asked us to allow them to be used in different countries and to support them in this regard. We acted with the approach of a public manager who trusts his nation and his colleagues.” he said. Stating that the Turkish National Intelligence Scale (TÜZO), the first domestic and national intelligence test in which scientific tests and scales specific to Türkiye were developed, was implemented, Tekin said: “In order for the steps we take to be successful, they must coincide with our social structure and our expectations from education. Secondly, the resources we allocate for these subjects. The resources we allocate because we purchase from abroad the tests we use for student selection at BİLSEMs. Look, we will also prevent a significant waste of resources. With our own academics, teachers, science We sat down with our people and developed these tests. All of them were piloted. From this point of view, I believe that if we can evaluate our human resources correctly, we will evaluate our national income, gross national product, economy and social welfare in the way we deserve. I believe that the right steps we will take in directing us to the profession and the right training policies we will make will definitely contribute to us in this sense. Turkey is progressing at a pace that can truly be a world leader in the defense industry. We are talking about this, but who is doing this? “This is not just about the 4-year undergraduate education. It is the efforts of our teacher friends in this hall. While all these things done in the defense industry or similar places are praised, our teachers and the education we provide in our schools are praised. That’s why I would like to thank all our teacher friends.”

“WE REVISED OUR SCHOOLS PROVIDING VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FROM HEAD TO TOE”

Minister Tekin stated that vocational and technical education received a serious blow with the February 28 period and that everyone experienced a trauma period in this regard. Stating that a period of revival has begun in vocational and technical education since 2010, Tekin stated that there has been a reorientation towards vocational and technical education with the abolition of the coefficient application. Giving information about the policies implemented in this process, Tekin said: “We revised our schools that provide vocational and technical education from top to bottom. We renewed the programs, fields, branches. We renewed the workshops and laboratories. We developed new school models and project school models and ensured their connection with the sector. We expanded the internship practices of our children in schools for on-the-job training. While doing this, we started pocket money for our children at 30 percent and 50 percent of the minimum wage. Skills training for businesses.” We introduced insurance opportunities to our children against work accidents and occupational diseases, against the risks that our children who go to school and internship may face. We have turned MESEMs into a part of 12-year compulsory education. We have initiated incentives for our vocational and technical education high schools within and outside the OIZ, which provide education in the process of training the human resources that Türkiye needs. At this point, approximately 41 percent of our secondary school students in vocational and technical education in Türkiye. “We are now close to the OECD average of 44 percent. 43 percent of our students who enrolled in secondary education for the first time in the 2025-2026 academic year are enrolled in our schools providing vocational and technical education. This shows that we have reached the normal point in the February 28 period.” Minister Tekin reminded that after the publication of the Vocational and Technical Education Policy Document, they initiated practices such as in-sector school, sector-integrated school and regional school.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu met with Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder in Leipzig, where he was to attend the International Transport Forum (ITF) held in Germany. In his post on his virtual media account, Minister Uraloğlu said, “We met with my esteemed counterpart Mr. Patrick Schnieder, the German Federal Minister of Transport. During our meeting, we held consultations regarding the strengthening of transportation infrastructures, the development of logistics connections and the work we carry out within the framework of the sustainable transportation vision. We will continue to further deepen the strategic dialogue between Turkey and Germany in the field of transportation.”

Minister Uraloğlu, who held contacts within the scope of ITF, said from his virtual media account regarding his bilateral meetings: “We had meetings within the scope of the International Transport Forum. The host was Mr. Young Tae Kim, Secretary General of the International Transport Forum, Mr. Yasushi Kaneko, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of the friendly and brotherly country Japan, my esteemed counterpart Mr. Ivan Bednarik, Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic, Mr. Acting Minister Responsible for Transport and Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia. “We met with Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih and discussed issues such as sustainable transportation, smart infrastructure systems, global logistics networks and strengthening the connectivity between Europe and Asia. In line with common goals, we will continue to develop constructive cooperation in all modes of transportation.”

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu participated in the family photo shoot at the ITF held in Germany. In his post, Uraloğlu said, “International Transport Forum (ITF) 2026 Summit Family Photo. We are a strong Transport Family with solid foundations, looking to the future with confidence…”

According to the statement made by the Zero Waste Foundation, the Zero Waste Movement, which started under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, Chairman of the United Nations (UN) Zero Waste High-level Personalities Advisory Board and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, and transformed into a strong environmental and sustainability vision on a global scale, has become one of the basic building blocks of Türkiye’s environmental and climate policies.

This high-level ownership ensured that the zero waste approach was positioned as a strategic priority not only on a national scale but also on international platforms, while creating a strong institutional framework that reinforced Türkiye’s leading role on the road to the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).

With this vision, Zero Waste Forum 2026 will be organized by the Zero Waste Foundation under the chairmanship of COP31 High Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş, with the theme “Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action” on 5-7 June in Istanbul. The forum will be launched as a high-level and action-oriented platform designed to make the zero waste approach an integral component of the global climate action agenda.

While the forum will serve to advance COP31-compliant initiatives to be held in Türkiye under the chairmanship of Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, through announcements, cooperation development processes and implementation preparation mechanisms, it will also include special sessions moderated by partners and selected content linking the issue of zero waste with the broader climate agenda within the framework of the “Road to Antalya”.

THE FORUM FUNCTIONS AS AN INSTITUTIONAL BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COP31 IMPLEMENTATION AGENDA

Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 on 9-20 November 2026 offers a historic opportunity to move the zero waste approach from a separate environmental topic to a directly practical climate action area. In this context, Zero Waste Forum 2026 is positioned as a fundamental meeting point that increases coordination, strengthens partnerships and accelerates implementation preparation in the process leading to Antalya.

By serving as an institutional bridge between the Zero Waste Foundation’s multi-stakeholder platform and the COP31 implementation agenda, the Forum aims to bring together stakeholder views on a large scale, link priorities with concrete implementation paths and accelerate action.

In this respect, the forum was designed as a structure that contributes to the shaping of practice-oriented decisions rather than formal international negotiation processes.

OVER 100 MINISTERS AND MORE THAN 200 MAYORS FROM THE WORLD WILL COME TO ISTANBUL

Within the scope of the forum, ministers, mayors, business world representatives, innovators, academics, financial institutions and non-governmental actors will meet on the same platform to identify the blockages encountered in practice, quickly implement solutions and implement collaborations.

The Zero Waste Forum, which will be held for the second time this year, is expected to bring together participants from more than 150 countries, more than 500 corporate stakeholders and more than 5 thousand international guests in Istanbul. More than 100 ministers and more than 200 mayors from around the world will attend the forum.

In this regard, three critical High Level Ministerial Sessions will be held in the forum program: Industry and Technology, Agriculture and Forestry, Energy and Natural Resources.

A THEMATIC DAY FOCUSING ON FOOD WASTE AND METHANE REDUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE FORUM

A special thematic day focusing on food waste and methane reduction will also be held within the scope of the forum. In this context, waste prevention and recycling will be supported throughout the food value chain, a direct link will be established between organic waste management and methane reduction, and applicable solutions at the city level will be highlighted.

The outputs to be produced at the end of the forum are designed to directly contribute to implementation, although they are not binding. In this context, concrete tools such as the Road to Antalya Declaration, City Action Commitments Package, Food Waste and Methane Action Guide, Partnership and Project Line, Measurement and Accountability Note, Zero Waste Forum 2026 Summary Report will be developed and made available to stakeholders.

The Zero Waste Festival, which will be held within the scope of Istanbul Zero Waste Week, will create a ground for social awareness and interaction with wide participation.

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin said that one of the most sensitive issues that the Ministry focuses on is the development of vocational and technical education in Türkiye, in the “18th International MEB Robot Competition” program held at Antalya Sports Hall with the theme of “Green Homeland, Blue Future” under the coordination of the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education, in cooperation with TÜBİTAK and TIKA, and under the theme of “Green Homeland, Blue Future”.

Stating that vocational and technical education is very important from two perspectives, Tekin stated that this education is very important in eliminating the damage caused by February 28, one of the important breaking moments in Türkiye’s democratization process, on Türkiye’s democracy, rule of law and human rights perspective. For this reason, Tekin emphasized that every step that will develop and strengthen vocational and technical education is a step that will repair these wounds opened in democracy in Türkiye.

Secondly, Tekin explained that the development of the talents of young people shows that the country is developing economically, and noted that they are making intense efforts to develop the talents of the students in this respect.

Tekin stated that very important steps have been taken with these two perspectives in Türkiye since 2010, and that the coefficient obstacle in front of vocational high schools and the anti-democratic steps that caused vocational high school students to worry about the future have been eliminated.

Explaining that they discussed this issue in order to redesign vocational and technical education according to the skills required by the age, Tekin stated that in many schools and many provinces, areas that have become dysfunctional are closed and replaced with new areas according to the needs of the age.

Tekin stated that they opened vocational and technical education to sector representatives with the project school format in 2014 and said, “We started to determine the curriculum in our schools providing vocational and technical education with the representatives of professional organizations representing the business world that we chose as stakeholders.” he said.

“WE TAKEN VERY SERIOUS STEPS REGARDING INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS”

Minister Tekin underlined that they have taken very serious steps regarding internship programs in which children will receive practical training while receiving theoretical education.

Stating that they first organized workshop laboratories, so that children could carry out workshops and laboratory studies in a sterile environment, Tekin stated that within the framework of the protocols made with workplaces, they started to provide pocket money to children at the rate of 30 percent and 50 percent of the minimum wage.

Emphasizing that the main criterion sought in the enterprises with which the protocol is signed is to take all measures regarding occupational health and safety, Tekin said, “We have started to return to the situation before February 28 regarding vocational and technical education. As of now, 41 out of 100 secondary school students in Türkiye are receiving vocational and technical education. This year, 43 out of 100 secondary school students have registered for vocational and technical education. This is very important for us.” he said.

Minister Tekin reminded that the Vocational and Technical Education Policy Document was published in 2024 with the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and said that they added the solutions to the new problems encountered in the field to the policy document.

Stating that one of the main problems in the world right now is the lack of emphasis on the human characteristics of children, Tekin said that they have included this issue in the 2024 policy document in order to raise children who prioritize being good people, peace, human rights, justice and compassion.

Stating that this robot competition is one of the events organized by the Ministry with the highest participation, Tekin said, “We are organizing the 18th and this year we have contestant friends and young people from 23 countries. Tens of thousands of our friends from 81 provinces are here to participate in this competition. I thank them all.” he said.

“THE ‘GREEN HOMELAND, BLUE FUTURE’ THEME IS VERY IMPORTANT”

MEB Vocational and Technical Education General Director Salih Kaygusuz said that every work put forward by young people in line with the National Technology Move targets reflects Türkiye’s production capacity and excitement.

Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin emphasized that the theme of “Green Homeland, Blue Future” is very important for the future of Türkiye and said, “We are in the digital and information age, the cards are being distributed again and we have very good trump cards in the newly distributed cards. The most important of those trump cards is our young, hard-working, special population that fills this hall.” he said.

Later, Minister Tekin and the protocol members visited the in-field competition tracks and the stands established in the field. During the program, students chatted with Minister Tekin and took a souvenir photo.

Representatives of TÜBİTAK, TIKA and Turkish Maarif Foundation, students and educators from home and abroad attended the program.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Zero Waste Foundation’s headquarters in Üsküdar, Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş stated that the T3 Foundation carries out important work for the dissemination of technology in Türkiye and thanked T3 Foundation Chairman of the Board of Trustees Selçuk Bayraktar and Chairman of the Board of Directors Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır.

Stating that they are working to popularize the Zero Waste Movement, which was launched in 2017 under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, Ağırbaş said, “With this cooperation protocol, we are opening a new page with our T3 Foundation, especially regarding ‘zero waste in technology’ studies, dissemination of zero waste-related studies in DENEYAP workshops and new zero waste studies to be carried out by the society.” he said.

Ağırbaş stated that they will work with the T3 Foundation at the Zero Waste Forum to be organized by the Foundation next month, and noted that more than 5 thousand guests will be hosted in the organization, where more than 150 countries are expected to participate.

Ağırbaş emphasized that, as a foundation, they attach importance to the understanding of common sense and said, “We want to create platforms where everyone meets around the same table and decisions are made through consultation, dialogue and consensus. We believe that we can only achieve success in this way. Zero Waste Foundation is the foundation of 86 million people in Türkiye and the foundation of 8 billion people in the world. In this context, we will continue to work uninterruptedly for a more livable world, a more prosperous world.” he said.

T3 Foundation Chairman of the Board of Directors, Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, said that as a foundation, they have implemented many projects to bring young people together with science and technology.

Stating that young people are supported in the field of science and technology through DENEYAP technology workshops, science centers, TEKNOFEST and enterprise centers, Hıdır stated that they carry out all studies in cooperation with stakeholder institutions.

Pointing out the importance of the adoption of the Zero Waste Movement by all segments of society, Hıdır said, “Sustainability is now seen as one of the most important elements all over the world. Since we cannot distinguish technology from sustainability, we need to carry out studies in which we can integrate them together. We will organize trainings, joint workshops and programs in our science centers and workshops to increase the awareness level of young people in this field.”

Hıdır explained that they organize technology competitions focusing on the benefit of humanity in the field of environment and energy within the scope of TEKNOFEST, and added that joint studies will be carried out with the Zero Waste Foundation to support the projects developed by young people at the national and international level.

Within the scope of the signed protocol, the parties aim to carry out joint studies at local, national and international levels in the fields of education, technology, environmental awareness and sustainability.

‘IT WAS AN OLD FLAT, IT WAS REQUESTED TO BE REPAIRED QUICKLY’

Witness Timurhan T., who renovated the house belonging to Muhittin Böcek, said, “I went to Ali A. in November 2024. He said that he had an apartment in the port and wanted to have it renovated. I said I was available and accepted. I conveyed the price offer, we bargained a little and agreed. We agreed on a price of 1.5 million TL. We asked for 1 million TL up front. We finished and delivered it within 3 months. It was an old apartment, quickly. “I discussed all the issues with Ali A. I received most of the money, 200 thousand TL from the bank. We later learned the real owner of the house. My brother Serkan T. did not know it, I told him.”

‘I AM THE MAYOR OF ANTALYA METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY, I CANNOT DEAL WITH RENOVATIONS’

Stating that he told Serkan T. that the house would be renovated and that Ali A. did not know about this situation, Muhittin Böcek said, “Our Deputy Secretary General at that time, Serkan T., was also the construction site manager of a site, I would tell him everything about the renovation. I never talked to Ali A.. I am the Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, I cannot deal with renovations. I issue the invoice on my own person and always pay it. Serkan knew, didn’t he tell Timurhan?” he said. Upon Böcek’s words, Timurhan T. repeated that he learned about the flat renovation from Ali A. and that Serkan T. did not know. At the hearing, the defense statements of all defendants who were not detained were also taken. The three detained defendants and their lawyers will make their defense tomorrow.