Nursery opening held in Üsküdar: Minister Tekin becomes the focus of criticism

The opening and groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Yuvamız Üsküdar' (Our Home Üsküdar) nursery was held in Üsküdar. TBB and IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu delivered a speech at the ceremony organized by the Üsküdar Municipality. Following the ceremony, Üsküdar Deputy Mayor Mithat Özdemir and citizens who attended with their children spoke to 12punto. Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin became the focus of the criticism.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Nursery opening held in Üsküdar: Minister Tekin becomes the focus of criticism

The Üsküdar Municipality held a ceremony for the opening of one “Yuvamız Üsküdar” nursery and the groundbreaking of another. Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş and Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler attended the ceremony, which also drew significant interest from citizens. Speaking at the ceremony, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB) and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu criticized the government. Üsküdar Deputy Mayor Mithat Özdemir also made statements to 12punto. Özdemir emphasized that they would open many nurseries in a short time. Citizens, meanwhile, lashed out at the government regarding the ‘nursery polemic’ between the government and the opposition, saying, ‘They are playing with our children’s future.’

“THIS IS CALLED GIVING THE NATION’S MONEY TO THE NATION”

“We have never discriminated in service, and we never will,” said İmamoğlu, adding:

"My promise in every square before March 31, 2019, was: To equalize every child living in this city... In fact, it is impossible for a country that cannot equalize its children to ensure justice. At the point we have reached today, from the very first day we took office, we have directed our work by asking: What is missing, what is the current need of our citizens, and how can we complete it? It is precisely in this direction that we started the nursery initiative. It is easy to say; it was zero nurseries, now we have 106 nurseries in service. Over 10 thousand children are starting life on equal footing. They pay 2 thousand 500 liras per month. That is almost one-seventh of today’s minimum wage. So, do you know what this is called? This is called giving the nation’s money to the nation. And we will never give up on this.”

“IF I WERE IN THE OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTY…”

Referring to the official letter sent by the Ministry of National Education to municipalities regarding the warning of “places opened under the name of nurseries” and the instruction not to open new ones, İmamoğlu stated, “Do you know what I would do if a municipality doing such work and taking such steps were in the opposing political party? I would try to do two more than what they did. I wouldn’t try to close theirs, I wouldn’t try to disparage them. I would do two more, I would open three more. This is what should be done. May God help them.”

“WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPENING NURSERIES IN SYRIA AS WELL”

Stating that “ignorance is the cause of wars in the Islamic geography,” İmamoğlu said regarding the migration expected following the Syrian administration passing under HTS control, “As municipalities, we are ready to mobilize as Republican People’s Party municipalities and as all municipalities to ensure the most accurate municipal practices, the best municipal practices, and the opening of nurseries with the strongest curricula there tomorrow, and the opening of educational centers there, and in services like these, so that Syrians can return to their homeland with their children as soon as possible. That is the summary of it.”

“WE WILL OPEN MANY NURSERIES IN A SHORT TIME”

Üsküdar Deputy Mayor Mithat Özdemir also stated to 12punto, “May it be auspicious for our people of Üsküdar, we have opened our first nursery. Currently, 50 of our children are receiving education here, and it is a facility with a capacity of 80. We also laid the foundation for our second facility in Sultantepe Neighborhood. The opening of children’s nurseries was what our Mayor emphasized and promised the most during the previous election periods. We are taking very serious actions and doing serious work. New nurseries will be opened in many neighborhoods, and as we all know, nurseries are a huge need, especially for working parents. In this regard, we can say that we will open many nurseries in Üsküdar in a short time.”

“THEY ARE PLAYING WITH OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE”

On the other hand, citizens who spoke to 12punto lashed out at the government and reacted to the Ministry of National Education’s warning regarding “places opened under the name of nurseries.”

One citizen said, “It is a very beautiful project, we are very happy. The Ministry of National Education’s statement is very wrong; after all, this is education, children are our future, they are playing with our children’s future,” while another citizen explained that they came to Istanbul to look after their grandchild, saying, “There is benefit in their multiplication, they should not be closed, more should be opened. How are we going to keep working parents at home? I live in Edirne, I came to Istanbul to look after my grandchild.”

A mother requested support, saying, “I am very pleased that such a service exists, especially for working mothers. I was very saddened by the Ministry of National Education’s statement; it is very inappropriate to block such beneficial services. Not everyone is in equal conditions, the path of working people is being blocked, I am surprised by this statement, it should be supported.”

News Source: Beste Çelik