This year, the Council of Europe is celebrating the European Day of Languages in Ankara with the launch of a new project aimed at enhancing foreign language education in Türkiye. The European Union (EU) and Council of Europe Joint Project, "Enhancing Foreign Language Education Quality in Türkiye," had its official kick-off on 18 September 2024, marking the beginning of this significant initiative. The project will be implemented in co-operation with the Board of Education under the Ministry of National Education.
Taking place just days before the European Day of Languages, this project aligns with the global celebration of linguistic diversity and the importance of language learning. It reflects a shared commitment to promoting plurilingual and intercultural education across Europe. The meeting aimed to update key stakeholders on the project’s implementation plan, reaffirm existing partnerships, and reinforce commitments to its success.
Improving foreign language education has been identified as a priority both in Türkiye’s national strategic plans and by the Council of Europe’s Education Department. This project seeks to raise the quality and effectiveness of language education in Türkiye, aligning with international best practices, particularly the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and its 2020 Companion Volume, developed by the Council of Europe.
The event gathered key figures including the President of the Board of Education at the Ministry of National Education, Prof. Dr Cihad Demirli; the Head of the Human and Social Development Section of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Mr Laurent Guirkinger; the Head of Contract Management at the Directorate General for Foreign Relations and the European Union of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Mr Uğur Güneş; and the Head of the Formal and Non-formal Education Division of the Education Department of the Council of Europe, Ms Sarah Keating, alongside the Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara, Mr William Massolin.
The day concluded with a meeting with Assoc. Prof. Celile Eren Ökten, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of National Education. During the meeting, the strong partnership between the Council of Europe and the Ministry of National Education was emphasised, and key strategic points for the project’s implementation were discussed. Commitments were made to sustain and further enhance the project's achievements.
