The 'Matrakçı Thought, Science, and Technology Workshops Project,' implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was developed to provide young people with qualified educational content in the fields of thought, science, and technology, inspired by the versatile Ottoman scientist and artist Matrakçı Nasuh.

 

The workshops, established by the Ministry of National Education with contributions from the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, are equipped with materials that help students in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the primary and secondary school levels develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

 

In this context, the workshops established in Sarajevo, Zenica, Zivinice, Gorazde, and Novi Travnik across Bosnia and Herzegovina aim to provide students with scientific and technological knowledge as well as learning outcomes such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and teamwork.

 

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of National Education Ömer Faruk Yelkenci emphasized the deep connections between the Balkans and Anatolia, stating that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not just a friendly country for Türkiye, but a brotherly land that carries the shared values of our civilization. Yelkenci expressed his belief that the project would strengthen educational and cultural cooperation between Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina and highlighted the great importance of the project, which will contribute to the spread of Turkish as a language of science.

 

Stating that 100 students will receive training within the scope of the Matrakçı Thought, Science, and Technology Workshops, Yelkenci said that Matrakçı Nasuh was also a mathematician, so it is meaningful to give his name to the workshops.

 

In his speech, Yelkenci highlighted the success of projects such as 'My Choice is Turkish' and the 'Sister Schools' in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He pointed out that, with 213 sister schools currently in the country, these partnerships enhance cultural interaction among young people and lay a strong foundation for future initiatives. Yelkenci also expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders who contributed to the implementation of these projects.

 

Following the opening ceremony, Yelkenci and the accompanying delegation visited workshops in Sarajevo and met with local administrators, teachers, and students. During the meetings, possible activities for the sustainable development of cooperation in the field of education were discussed.

 

In the program, Yelkenci was accompanied by Tuba Korkmaz, Director General for European Union and Foreign Relations; Murat Mücahit Yentür, Istanbul Provincial Director of National Education; and the District Directors of National Education in Istanbul.