Istanbul Education Summit 2025 Highlights Global Dialogue on “Healing the World Through Education”

The 5th Istanbul Education Summit opened on Friday, 5 December 2025, in Istanbul under the theme “Healing the World Through Education”, organised by the Turkish Maarif Foundation with wide international participation of education ministers, experts and decision-makers. The opening ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, President of the Maarif Foundation Mahmut M. Ozdil, and the guests of honour Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of Türkiye, and Latifa Al-Daroubi, the Syrian First Lady.

Healing Through Education

In his opening address, Mahmut M. Ozdil said the summit’s theme reflects a critical global moment in which the world is overwhelmed by crises. He stressed that “healing through education” does not mean imposing a single model, but rather embracing diversity, shared responsibility and human-centred learning that transforms pain into a collective future built on conscience, justice and hope.

Latifa Al-Daroubi highlighted that education today is not merely about funding or institutional support, but about building genuine human partnerships that redefine learning as an act of renewal and national recovery. She affirmed that the child is the foundation of every future, noting that Syria’s difficult experience has proven that education is not a service sector alone, but a core project of state-building. She also praised Turkish–Syrian relations, expressing confidence in Türkiye and calling for joint international projects to rebuild schools, restore values and give children the right to dream before the right to a school seat.

Emine Erdoğan emphasised that the world can only be healed through education that nurtures the human spirit, heals wounds and restores moral balance. She warned that separating knowledge from values has led to today’s ethical and humanitarian crises. She underlined that more than 250 million children worldwide remain out of school, and that education is the key to sustainable development, equality and global peace. She praised the Maarif Foundation’s model of education based on respect for cultures and service to humanity, and reaffirmed support for rebuilding education in the region, especially in Syria.

The summit programme includes high-level dialogue sessions on the role of education in economic development, social cohesion and crisis management, as well as discussions on “Beyond Curricula: The Art of Humanity” and school–family–community partnerships. A dedicated youth session will conclude the summit, highlighting the role of young people in shaping future education policies.

Alongside the discussions, special exhibitions showcase Maarif educational experiences, international student art and photography, and selected projects from the “Good Practices in Education” initiative. The Turkish Maarif Foundation currently runs more than 500 educational institutions and two universities in 64 countries worldwide.

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