Why Bilal Erdoğan Says Education Alone Is Not Enough

Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Society, emphasized the importance of combining education quality with moral values during the opening of two new educational institutions in the Ardeşen district of Rize. Speaking at the inauguration of the İlim Yayma Society Youth and Education Center (Ardeşen Branch) and the Nusret Bayraktar Quran Course for Children Aged 4–6, Erdoğan stated that Turkey’s long-term success depends not only on academic achievement but also on character-based education.

The ceremony brought together local administrators, civil society representatives, and residents, highlighting the growing role of non-governmental organizations in Turkey’s education ecosystem. The program began with the Turkish National Anthem and a Quran recitation, followed by speeches from invited guests.

“Turkey Now Competes With the World’s Best in Education Infrastructure”

In his address, Bilal Erdoğan highlighted the significant expansion of Turkey’s education infrastructure over the past two decades. He noted that investments in schools and classrooms have improved key indicators such as student-to-teacher and student-to-classroom ratios.

“Over the past 23 years, under the leadership of our President, the number of classrooms in Turkey has more than tripled. Today, in terms of the number of students per classroom and per teacher, Turkey is competing with the world’s most advanced countries. Thanks to this, we are seeing tangible results. In the next 10 to 20 years, we will achieve even stronger outcomes from these better-educated generations,” Erdoğan said.

He framed these improvements as a foundation for long-term national development, stressing that education policies should be evaluated over decades rather than short political cycles.

Moral Education Highlighted as a Core Pillar

Beyond physical infrastructure and academic metrics, Erdoğan placed strong emphasis on values-based education, arguing that moral awareness is essential for building a healthy society.

“Our elders used to say, ‘Fear the one who does not fear God.’ That is why we want our well-educated children to also have a sense of moral responsibility and a sense of God-consciousness. The reason is simple: to help them become better human beings,” he stated.

He added that many social and ethical problems stem from the absence of such values.

“When we ask why someone acted unjustly, violated rights, or engaged in wrongdoing, the root cause is often the lack of moral restraint. That is why we want the number of people with strong ethical awareness in this society to increase,” Erdoğan said.

“A Society That Can Set an Example for the World”

Linking education to Turkey’s cultural and historical identity, Erdoğan described faith and values as elements that have shaped the nation for centuries.

“This nation has always been shaped and sustained by faith. When we succeed in raising generations with both knowledge and values, I truly believe we will become a society that sets an example for the world,” he said.

He connected this vision to Turkey’s broader national aspirations, often referred to as the “Turkey Century.”

“That is why our President speaks of the ‘Turkey Century.’ A Turkey that will leave its mark on the 21st century will rise on the shoulders of young people raised with strong education and strong values,” Erdoğan added.

Focus on Youth-Centered Education Initiatives

The newly opened Youth and Education Center in Ardeşen aims to support students academically while also offering cultural and social development programs. The Quran Course for children aged 4 to 6, opened in cooperation with the Ardeşen Mufti’s Office, focuses on early childhood education within a values-oriented framework.

Following the speeches, Rize Provincial Mufti Naci Çakmakçı led a prayer, after which the facilities were officially opened. Erdoğan and accompanying officials toured the classrooms and spoke with students and instructors.