
The Rauf Raif Denktaş Vocational High School was opened with a ceremony on Monday.
The school will keep Denktaş’s legacy alive and bears his name.
In the speeches made at the ceremony, the importance of Denktaş’s services to his people was emphasized and it was pointed out that this should be passed on to future generations.
The official opening ceremony for the Rauf Raif Denktaş Vocational High School, which started education in the 2024 – 2025 academic year was realized on Monday.
The ceremony was attended by President Ersin Tatar, Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Ziya Öztürkler, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Yasin Ekrem Serim, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoplu, as well as the family members of Founding President Denktaş and some ministers and MPs.
School Principal Rüstem Kal delivered the opening speech at the ceremony by stating that a modern contemporary school was brought to the country thanks to the support of all stakeholders.
“We aim to raise individuals who attach importance to moral values and love for the homeland. This school, which will carry the legacy of Founding President Denktaş to future generations, will raise the leaders of the future” said Kal.
Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu also emphasized the importance of bringing the school named after Denktaş, the founder of the TRNC, to the country.
“We aim to transfer Atatürkist thought to future generations. We have adopted the vision of raising people who will contribute to the development of our country. A society without teachers and education is unthinkable,” said Çavışoğlu.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel for his part emphasized the struggle of Dr. Fazıl Küçük and Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş in the establishment of the TRNC and pointed out that today is a historic day.
He stated that the newly opened school is a necessity in order to catch up with the age and for young people to receive contemporary education.
Noting that the school was made possible through the contributions of Türkiye with the cooperation of the state and the private sector, Üstel announced that the foundation for another vocational high school to be built in the Girne region, will be laid in the near future.
President Ersin Tatar for his part noted that students who will be educated in this school will grow up to become valuable employees.
He stated that the students will make a great contribution to the country’s development, future, professional life and will serve the Republic of Türkiye.
Stating that teachers have a great duty for the future of the state Tatar said, “The main thing is the state, it is the youth who will protect the state.”
Explaining that they are working to maintain peace in the country and that they will never give up Türkiye’s guarantees and the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot people, Tatar said, “We will not lose what we have gained in half a century with a signature, and there is no one who will put their signature on such a thing”.
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