A new era in NetAcad education in Turkey has started on September 26, 2006 with the announcement made by Huseyin Celik, Turkish Minister of Education and Faruk Eczacıbasi, President of Turkish Informatics Foundation during Cisco Systems’ President and CEO John Chambers’ visit to Turkey.
In alignment with the protocol which was signed between Turkish Ministry of Education and Turkish Informatics Foundation, NetAcad programs developed by Cisco, will be widely used in high school curricula and in training teachers and IT personnel of the Ministry. As a first step, an Instructor training Center is set up, namely Cisco Academy Training Center, which will be founded by Turkish Informatics Foundation within Department of Education Technologies in Turkish Ministry of Education.
The Cisco Networking Academy Program, which is a comprehensive e-learning program that provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in the global economy, has been been used widely in universities, and vocational education centers in Turkey. NetAcad has started in Turkey in 2000, and more than 1,500 people graduated from this program from total 47 NetAcad academies in Turkey. Now, with the protocol the first step is taken to provide this education in selected schools under Turkish Ministry of Education. Within the context of the protocol, Turkish Informatics Foundation will set up an instructor training center for Turkish Ministry of Education, Department of Education Technologies, where the initial trainings will be given. Cisco will be providing content for basic ICT trainings as well as networking expert level courses.
John Chambers, Cisco Systems’ President and CEO, underscored the role of the Internet and education as the two great equalizers during his speech at the press conference held for the announcement of the protocol.
With its economic growth and the willingness of its citizens, Turkey has the potential to significantly benefit from the use of Internet technologies. I believe that the agreement with the Turkish Ministry of Education is the first step to accelerate this process. With this partnership, high school teachers and IT personnel in the Ministry will be trained in ICT and networking. Our aim is to expand IT education at the high school level throughout the country, which can help more than 13 million Turkish students obtain the necessary technology skills to actively participate in the growth of their country.
Turkish Informatics Foundation President and CEO Faruk Eczacıbaşı said:
Turkish Informatics Foundation has been working to create awareness about the great potential of the efficient use of technology in education in our country. With TBV NetAcad Academy, our aim has been to provide professional education to large groups. We will continue to support NetAcad within this framework. Our aim is to create and implement new educational projects together with universities, other NGO’s, and the government . NetAcad Program provides a solid starting point for this purpose. Turkey as a knowledge society has been the vision of Turkish Informatics Foundation since its establishment in 1995. This is why we are supporting any kind of education with all our capabilities.
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