Gender Equality MARCH 2020 Gender Equality | Page 12

Along with the boarding education services provided to poor children, scholarship services are also
being provided to 6th, 7th and 8th grades of primary education institutions as well as general and
vocational technical secondary education institutions. Along with scholarship services, the
implementation of “Conditional Cash Transfer” within the scope of Social Risk 8 Mitigation Project
(SRMP) lays the ground for unconditional education assistance all over Turkey with the aim of
establishing a social assistance network targeting the full access of children of families living in areas
which are most in need of basic education services. “Let’s go to school, girls! campaign” (Haydi Kızlar
Okula) stands as the most important campaign targeting the 100 % enrollment of all children,
particularly girls at primary education age but who remained out of the education system for any
given reason, and all children in the age group of 6-14 who dropped-out or not attending school.
The campaign has been initiated in 2003 in 10 provinces where the schooling rate is the lowest and
was planned to be completed in 2005. However, as the campaign was relatively successful it has
been extended and expanded all over Turkey in 2006. The campaign deploys Conditional Cash
Transfer application with the aim of increasing transfer rates from primary education to secondary
education and allocates increased aid to girls. Besides, the payments are handed over directly to
their mothers so that the position of women is empowered both in the family and the society. In
addition, campaigns and activities such as “My Family”, “7 is Too Late Campaign”, “Mother-Child
Education Program”, “Father Support Education Program”, “Pre-school Education Campaign”,
“Parent-Infant Education Program” and “Mobile Nursery School” are being organized with the
cooperation of public institutions and non-governmental organizations with the aim of increasing
schooling rate in pre-school education as well as the awareness level of women in this regard.
Moreover, regional boarding primary schools are opened up to provide, the population at primary
education age in rural villages and sub-villages where there is no school and thus the children of
poor families, with access to primary education services.
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