MOSCOW - National Education Minister Huseyin Celik departed from Moscow, Russia on Saturday.
Prior to his departure, Celik held a press conference.
Upon a question, he said that studies regarding the structure of Higher Education Board (YOK) continued and stated that it was planned that the commission which was set up on this issue would end its studies regarding YOK by December 15.
Noting that they did not have any change on their view regarding YOK, he said that there was need for change in YOK.
Celik said that Russian language would thought as a second language in tourism and hotel management schools in Turkey, and a pilot project would be started for this.
Celik said that Russian Education Minister Vladimir Filippov was also very interested in those projects.
When a reporter said that some of schools owned by Fethullah Gulen were closed and administration of some of them were changed and asked whether he brought onto the agenda this issue during his meetings, Celik said that he did not come to Russia for such a purpose and stated that he paid this visit upon the invitation of Russian minister.
Celik said that Turkey was among parties of Bologna Declaration and noted that the declaration aimed at settlement of standardization and cooperation between universities in Europe.
Celik said that he visited Russia to put into practice agreement on education and culture between the two countries.
Stating that the issue of closing universities of some foundations and changing administration of them was brought onto the agenda during his meeting with Filippov, Celik quoted Filippov as saying that some of those schools were closed, as there were some shortcomings in formalities of those schools.
He noted that Filippov said that local administrations were dealing with opening and closing of those schools.
(EÖ-UK) 22.11.2003