DMM responds to claims that 'MEB transferred budget funds to religious sects and community foundations'

The DMM has issued a statement regarding the allegations made about community foundations. 

The Presidency's Directorate of Communications Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) announced that the claim, which appeared in some media outlets and was shared on social media accounts, that "the Ministry of National Education (MEB) transferred 5 billion 895 million 926 thousand liras from its budget to religious sects and community foundations" is not true.

The statement from the DMM emphasized that the Ministry of National Education's Corporate Financial Status and Expectations Report, published in July, shows that 5 billion 895 million 926 thousand liras were allocated under the scope of "transfers to non-profit organizations"; it was determined that this amount was manipulated and presented as "resources transferred to religious sects and community foundations."

The statement, which reported that the claims in the news regarding "resource transfers through signed protocols" are disinformation, noted the following:

"There is no resource transfer involved in any protocol signed with NGOs. Of the 5 billion 895 million 926 thousand liras under the scope of transfers to non-profit organizations, 31 million 727 thousand liras were allocated for 'educational cooperation' activities belonging to the General Directorate of European Union and Foreign Relations' International Educational Cooperation and Overseas Education program to associations, unions, institutions, organizations, funds, and similar entities (UNESCO Turkey National Commission); 364 thousand liras were allocated for Vocational Qualifications Authority membership fees within the scope of 'Education and Training Services for Vocational and Technical Education' activities belonging to the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education's 'secondary education' program; 161 million 835 thousand liras were allocated for the lunch expenses of civil servants within the scope of 'general support services' activities belonging to the General Directorate of Support Services' 'management and support' program; and 5 billion 702 million liras were allocated as an appropriation for the Turkey Maarif Foundation support activity of the General Directorate of Higher Education and Overseas Education. Do not give credence to claims aimed at manipulating public opinion."