An enthusiastic opening program was held at the Atatürk University Private Foundation Schools to greet the 2024-2025 Academic Year.

The opening program at Aziziye Bastions, which was organized with the theme of "First Lesson: Love of the Homeland," was attended by Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu and Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Hasan Yılmaz and Prof. Dr. Yüksel Göktaş, Provincial Director of National Education Yakup Yıldız, Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Ahmet Yer, Private Foundation Schools General Manager Erdal Karagülle, and teachers and students. The event was held at Aziziye Bastions and garnered significant attention.

Director Karagülle: "We are present today to draw inspiration from our heroes."

Erdal Karagülle, the General Manager of Private Foundation Schools, delivered the inaugural speech of the program. He expressed his pride and excitement at the prospect of commencing the first lesson of the academic year at Aziziye Bastions, the site of the epic Anatolian struggle. Director Karagülle, who acknowledged the significance of safeguarding national and spiritual values and transmitting them to future generations, observed that "On this occasion, we remember all our dear heroes who have fallen as martyrs for their homeland and independence from Çanakkale to Gaza; from Aziziye to Kut'ul Amare" with mercy, gratitude, and thanks. May their souls be at ease. Education is a process that is influenced by our illustrious history, the values that define us, and faith, in addition to knowledge. Today, I am motivated by Nene Hatun's heroic struggle to envision our primary objective as the development of you, our students, into individuals who are instilled with our national and spiritual values. We aspire to cultivate the leaders, scientists, and champions of the future by walking in unity and solidarity along this path. He concluded, "I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for sharing our enthusiasm and not abandoning us on the first day of the new academic year. I am optimistic that the 2024-2025 academic year will be prosperous."

Rector Hacımüftüoğlu: "These Lands Are a Sacred Trust Inherited from Our Ancestors"

In his address, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu underscored the significance of patriotism, asserting that it is "one of the most sublime emotions that every individual should possess." These lands are a sacred trust that was passed down from our progenitors. It is one of the most significant responsibilities of educators to ensure that our future generations, who are the source of our future, develop the awareness necessary to safeguard this trust. In our capacity as Atatürk University Private Foundation Schools, we endeavor to impart not only academic knowledge but also our national and spiritual values to our precious students.

Hacımüftüoğlu also addressed the students, emphasizing the importance of working with determination to achieve success in the upcoming academic year. He stated, "You are our future." Our nation will be fortified by each prudent decision you make. We will consistently provide our assistance to you as Atatürk University. I trust that your devotion to our nation and country will serve as the most potent source of motivation for you during your academic career. "I do," he replied.

Mayor Sekmen: "I am confident that you will serve your country as young individuals who influence history."

Mayor Mehmet Sekmen of the Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality began his address by expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to convene in a location that is significant to the history of Erzurum and Turkey. He emphasized that the youth and children of a nation are its most valuable assets. In accordance with our revised curriculum, we will ensure that our children are adequately equipped for the future. In this direction, we will collaborate with you, you valuable young people, to create new ideas and inventions, thereby elevating our nation to the level of contemporary civilizations. This is the manner in which our young people, who will be our work, should be and expand the horizons of the world, as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stated, "Teachers, the new generation will be your work." Indeed, the number of Nene Hatuns in this country will never come to an end. The lands we are currently on are nourished by the blood of martyrs, and we will continue to serve our country and nation as individuals who are worthy of our progenitors, who are the epitome of sacrifice. I trust that the spirit of this sacred location will inspire you to take more confident strides toward the future. He stated, "I am confident that you, as young individuals who are influencing history, will be able to serve your country. I extend my best wishes to each of you for a successful academic year."

Governor Çiftçi: "May the First Lesson Bell Ringing in the Bastions Bring Good Things"

The students initiated the new education-training program with the theme of "First Lesson from Çanakkale to Gaza: Homeland Defense" in this historical location where heroic epics were composed. Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi wished the first lesson bell to resonate auspiciously. Governor Çiftçi announced that he had recently visited all of the forts in Erzurum, stating, "Our initial lesson will commence at the Aziziye 1, 2, 3, and Mecidiye Forts." May the new academic year be a time of blessings for our pupils, teachers, and the entire nation. I personally visited all 23 forts in our metropolis and observed their current conditions. Erzurum, too, is a fort city in the east, much like Çanakkale. We recently convened a meeting to establish a roadmap with our institutions to ensure the safe transfer of our forts to future generations, which includes the maintenance, restoration, and landscaping of these forts. I am delighted to be in the presence of our youth and children in our forts, which are of such great significance. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Rectorate of Atatürk University and our beloved students for organizing this program. I also hope that the new academic year is filled with success, as a result of these emotions. "Erzurum is the land of heroes who resisted until their last breath to prevent the enemy from passing."

Abdurrahman Zeynal, a retired teacher, researcher, and author, followed the speeches with a speech that underscored the significance of the forts. Zeynal asserted that the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, which is regarded as the 93rd War in history, was the site of the composition of a great epic in Erzurum, one of the Ottoman Empire's most critical defense lines in Eastern Anatolia. He also stated that Erzurum, a strategic location in Eastern Anatolia, was inscribed in the pages of history with golden letters as a result of the extraordinary resistance exhibited by the Ottoman army and the people of Erzurum during this conflict. Abdurrahman Zeynal: "Erzurum has become the city of heroes who resisted the great attacks of the Russian army and resisted until their last breath to prevent the enemy from passing." The Ottoman army fortified the Erzurum Castle and its surrounding fortifications to establish a defense line at the outbreak of the war. "Since Erzurum is located at a critical point in terms of defense, it has become one of the biggest targets of the Russian army," according to him.

Zeynal: "The Soldiers Fighting on the Front Line Derived Morale from the Support of the People."

Zeynal also claimed that the civilian population in Erzurum made significant sacrifices during this conflict, stating that "women, children, and the elderly provided the Ottoman soldiers with any assistance they could." The city's hospitals treated the wounded soldiers on the front with great devotion, while the public's support served as a source of morale on the front lines. The Russian attacks that commenced in October 1877 were greeted with heroic resistance from Erzurum. The Ottoman army successfully halted the Russian forces by constructing an epic fortification at Aziziye Bastion, despite the fact that it had limited resources. This defense is not only immortalized as a military triumph, but also as a tangible illustration of the spirit of independence and patriotism. The 93 War is considered one of the last major wars of the Ottoman Empire; however, the heroism that was exhibited in Erzurum remains a symbol of the nation's resolute commitment to safeguarding its homeland, even as the empire disintegrates. In this conflict, Erzurum has been at the forefront of defending the homeland and the nation, as it has demonstrated countless times throughout its history. I respectfully remember our martyrs and veterans who have passed away with these sentiments, and I extend my best wishes to all of our students for success in the upcoming academic year. The speaker concluded his speech.

The "Love of the Homeland" program, the inaugural lesson of the 2024-2025 Academic Year, was conducted by Atatürk University Private Foundation Schools to underscore the significance of national and spiritual values in education. The program concluded with the placement of carnations at the martyrs' cemetery.



CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE - September 9, 2024