Speaking at the program held at the association's headquarters, ÖNDER Chairman Abdullah Ceylan said that as they look back, the 76-year story of imam hatip schools is experiencing its best days.
Ceylan stated that today, imam hatip schools are raising young people who are strong, possess national and spiritual values, engage with the country's fundamental concepts, look to the future with hope, and are self-confident, with strong character as well as high academic achievement.
Ceylan stated that these successes were achieved not with private tutoring centers but with National Education teachers, and noted that the success of imam hatip schools has spread across the entire field, that 31 young people who scored 500 points come from 15 different cities, and that each province and district is now creating its own brand school. He said:
"All of our young people who achieved top ranks, succeeded, and prepared for these exams in our imam hatip schools only
prepared at their schools. We did not achieve these successes by going to outside private tutoring centers or receiving private coaching. We achieved this success with our teachers and administrators within the national education system. We achieved this success not by placing additional burdens of tens of thousands of liras on our students and parents, but with our teachers at school. This is very valuable and important for us.
Therefore, imam hatip schools demonstrate their difference in every setting."
Ceylan stated that successes have been increasing exponentially each year, saying: "Especially when we look back at the last 5 years, the number of students from our imam hatip schools placed in the top 1% in the LGS, an exam in which 1 million young people compete, has exactly tripled. The number of students we placed in the top 5% has also doubled. This shows that these schools are getting stronger day by day, moving towards tomorrow with more qualified and stronger young people."
Ceylan also conveyed that there are 3,000 to 5,000 applications for the 200-300 students they can accept in imam hatip schools, and that parents show intense interest because they see that young people are raised well in these schools.
Ahmet Yapıcı, Head of the Learning Processes and Social Activities Department at the Ministry of National Education's General Directorate of Religious Education, stated that the academic successes of imam hatip schools always make them proud.
Yapıcı noted that these schools raise not only academically successful students but also generations that are wonderful, leader-like, and pioneering in sports, art, music, visual arts, technology, social sciences, religious and Quran memorization education, and moral development. He said: "There is very strong demand for our imam hatip middle schools from all over Turkey. In response to this demand, this year our general directorate asked schools in all provinces to open new classrooms and increase existing quotas to meet this demand. Currently, in all provinces, both new classrooms are being opened and existing quotas are being further increased for 5th graders. This demand is an expression of trust in the multifaceted education, school climate, and school culture of these schools."
After the speeches, plaques were presented to students studying at four imam hatip middle schools in Istanbul who ranked first by scoring 500 points in the LGS.
Top-ranking students share their feelings
Ahmet Emin Öztürk, a student at Tuzla Muzefferda Güzide Pulur İmam Hatip Middle School, said that his family was with him when the results were announced, and he felt very proud and happy. "My family was always there for me, I lacked nothing. My school had extra courses and programs. I want to study at TÜBİTAK Science High School. I aim to work in software. My advice to friends who will take the exam in the future is firstly not to tire themselves too much, to make time for their social lives, and to study by knowing what they are studying. They should study the subjects they need, not study for the sake of studying."
Elif Aybak, a student at Sancaktepe Abdurrahmangazi İmam Hatip Middle School, explained that while preparing for the exam, especially in the second semester, she solved practice tests every day, stayed at school until evening, and solved tests during study sessions. Noting that her family was always with her in this process, Aybak said: "They always took me wherever I needed to go, whatever exam I had to take, and stood by me. My school also did whatever was necessary and provided all kinds of opportunities. When the booklets and answers were made accessible, I predicted I would be first. When the results were official, I was very happy together with my parents. I haven't decided yet about the school I will choose. I want to go to a high school that deserves 500 points and accepts with 500 or near that score. Right now I'm thinking of studying medicine, I don't know if it will change in the future."
