School in Cambodia

Last Updated on Friday, 23 June 2006 13:46 by Mustafa Ünal Thursday, 19 January 2006 05:00

Phnom Pehn - Did you know there is a Turkish school in Cambodia, a country better known for its Khmer Rouge, the killing fields and unending civil wars -- deeply engraved into our minds through pain, tears and bloodshed?

In fact, I learned about it when I received an invitation and then went there and saw it in its place. The "Zaman International School," which now has a modern building, is one of the most prestigious schools in Cambodia with its 700 distinguished students...

We came to the capital, Phnom Penh, together with a delegation from Turkey for the opening ceremony of the new building. The delegation included Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Ismail Alptekin, Director-General of Overseas Education at the Turkish Education Ministry Hasan Kaplan and Istanbul Regional Education Director Omer Balibey... Turkey's Ambassador to Bangkok Mumin Alanat, who attracted notice with his congenial attitude, was also present at the start of the ceremony.

The opening of the new building was performed by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An together with the Turkish delegation. Looking at all of them as Turks during the ceremony, the pride of opening a school in a far far away land as Cambodia, was clearly visible in their eyes. "I cannot narrate what I experienced, what I saw; it was a feeling almost impossible to put into words. This is the place words almost cease. It was an experience that words cannot express," Alptekin said. The new building of the school is at the center of the city. It is very close to Parliament. It is magnificent and warm; it has an architecture that surrounds you...

The school is nine years old, and the story behind its establishment is quite interesting. The founder, Atilla Yusuf Guleker, first went to Cambodia as a journalist during the years when the civil war was not completely over and danger was lurking everywhere... Forces loyal to ousted leader Pol Pot pulled themselves together and came as far as the capital, Phnom Penh. During those hectic days, Guleker frequently faced serious dangers.

In 1997, under these difficult circumstances, Guleker embarked upon action to open a school and succeeded in doing so... The school started operating with only two students in the first year. The number of students increased gradually and today the school has exactly 700 students. All of them are selected students... Only those who pass the selection test can be registered. There are families waiting in queues to register their children. The school's director Ali Kokten said the capacity is full, adding "There is high demand, we are looking for ways to increase the capacity a little more. We have started work on a new school because of the extraordinary interest. We may open it next year."

The school boasts an extraordinary placement rate, almost 100 percent, in higher education. In addition, this is the only school in Cambodia that is a member of the European Council of International Schools, ECIS, the largest institution of its kind in the world. The school with its high quality education is an honor for Turkey... Hundreds of Cambodian children learn Turkish thanks to this school... The real nationalism is to make Cambodian children, who can hardly pronounce Turkish words, sing the Turkish national anthem in a smooth manner... The aim is to be able to teach them through Turkish culture, language and history that there is a country called Turkey...

There were emotional moments during the special program prepared by the students for the Turkish delegation. Balibey said they want to host Cambodian students studying at this school in Istanbul.

When I talked with those who contributed to make this school a success, they said it was difficult nine years ago to imagine the point the school has reached today. And today, it is difficult to imagine how it will be nine years later because the school is making fast progress beyond thoughts and dreams. The number of students in the school increasing from 2 to 700, is an unbelievable success story. The contributions of the self-sacrificing teachers and their spouses, serving in this remote part of the world, must not be forgotten.

The school administration organizes charity campaigns every year to display a sense of solidarity with the Turkish people and to make the students develop the habit of lending a helping hand. The aid collected goes to people in need.

It is impossible not to applaud those who give support to the glittering Turkish school in Cambodia, a country well-known for its killing fields...

ZAMAN