On July 10, 2024, Laurel Park School in north London hosted a conference titled “Empowering Turkish-Speaking Students: Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Success.” This event was dedicated to addressing the educational challenges faced by Turkish and Kurdish communities in London, who contribute to the city’s cultural diversity yet encounter unique obstacles impacting their educational achievements.
The conference was spearheaded by Oktay Şahbaz, with 17 years of experience in Hackney and Enfield. Observing educational challenges in Haringey, Şahbaz partnered with Adele Christofi, the headteacher of Laurel Park School. Together, they gathered educators, council representatives, and students to tackle these issues.
Bringing together community leaders, educator and local politicians the conference focused on educational equality and inclusion. Participants discussed, shared best practices, and devised strategies to empower Turkish and Kurdish students. Christofi highlighted the importance of supporting students from diverse backgrounds and shared successful initiatives at her school, noting the significant presence of Turkish-speaking students in both Haringey and Enfield.
In his opening speech, Şahbaz addressed severe challenges faced by students, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, changing curricula, academic pressures, and mental health issues. He emphasized the additional hurdles immigrant students face. Şahbaz provided statistics, highlighting that Turkish-speaking communities, though small nationally, represent significant portions in Enfield and Haringey.
Şahbaz described the conference as the first of its kind, aimed at recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by Turkish-speaking students in London. Peray Ahmet, Mayor of Haringey, shared her immigrant background and the educational challenges she faced, highlighting the persistence of prejudice despite her political achievements. Gülçin Yiğitoğlu of Day-Mer discussed the current issues of the Turkish-speaking community, emphasizing the organization’s educational efforts and the responsibilities of councils and schools.
Students Adar Dilberoğlu and Elina Canbolat shared their educational experiences, stressing the importance of family support, school facilities, and teacher attitudes. They expressed honor in participating in the conference, highlighting the significance of supportive school environments.
The conference concluded with a Q&A session, underscoring the need for councils to organize similar events. A decision was made to compile and share discussed solutions in a report with all schools in Enfield and Haringey.
This conference marks a crucial step in recognizing and addressing the educational challenges faced by Turkish-speaking students in London, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all.
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