Istanbul Governor's Office sends letter to municipalities regarding daycare centers

Following the Ministry of National Education's move to close daycare centers opened by municipalities and prevent the opening of new ones, a 'daycare' dispute has erupted between the government and the opposition.

While mutual statements continue to come from Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Istanbul Governor's Office has sent a letter to the municipalities.

In the notification in question, it was requested that the number of daycare centers, kindergartens, and day care homes opened by municipalities and their affiliated companies be reported by 3:00 PM today. Municipalities were also asked to specify if they do not have any such institutions.

The letter signed by Deputy Governor of Istanbul Dr. Hasan Hüseyin Can is as follows:

"There is a need for the number of kindergartens, daycare centers, and day care homes opened by our province's Metropolitan and District Municipalities, their affiliated administrations, and companies in which municipalities directly or indirectly hold more than fifty percent of the shares.

For this reason, the number of kindergartens, daycare centers, and day care homes opened by Metropolitan and District municipalities, their affiliated administrations, and companies in which municipalities directly or indirectly hold more than fifty percent of the shares must be filled out completely in the attached table and sent in Excel format to idaredenetim@istanbul.gov.tr by 3:00 PM today (November 28, 2024); if there are no kindergartens, daycare centers, or day care homes, this must be stated and sent via email.

I request your information and necessary action."