773 Children under Protection Benefited from Vocational Courses

Until today, 773 children, who are under legal protection and care and have been excluded from formal education system for various reasons, have benefited from vocational courses within the scope of “One Profession, One Future” project of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services that aims to prepare them well-equipped for life.

“One Profession, One Future” project initiated by our Ministry last year has been conducted by the Directorate General of Child Services and Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR). Through the project, children who are between the ages of 15-18, under protection and excluded from formal education system for various reasons get vocational training. With the project, trainings organised to provide self-confidence and responsibility enables children who cannot be successful in their education life to acquire vocational competence in line with their interests and skills.

The education programme planned in line with children’s interests and skills includes chef assistant, hairdressing, pastry, carpentry, carpet weaving, hand loom and traditional rug weaving, preparing dowry items, bathroom set sewing, preparing souvenir and jewellery-making courses. Course registrations are made based on children’s preferences in line with their interests and skills. 773 children who are cared for in childcare houses, compounds and centres are continuing the courses within the scope of the project which initially started in 23 pilot provinces and currently continues in 81 provinces. Trainings are carried out 6 days a week.

Mrs. Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Services, stated that they continued their studies for the employment of children under legal protection in public and private sectors. Noting that they continued studies for children they could not include in this application, Mrs. Selçuk said “the Directorate General of Child Services cooperates with İŞKUR to enable children receiving care and protection to have a job or profession, to help young people for their career planning, planning of their education life, getting information about professions, choice of profession and acquisition of job seeking skills.  In the upcoming period, we aim to develop this cooperation between two institutions, to match childcare intuitions sheltering children aged 15 and over with job and vocational counsellors working at the provincial directorates and provide on-site support to these institutions at periodical intervals”.

Children participating in the training programme, which consists of two parts as theoretical and practical and whose content the Ministry of National Education determines, and complete it successfully will receive the participation certificate. Arrangement regarding the job placement of the children having certificate will be made by İŞKUR.