"Awareness Raising Panel" Held with Wide Participation

The Awareness Raising Panel was held as part of the ‘Every Student Matters! Improving Inclusive Education Services for Students with Learning Difficulties Project’ carried out in collaboration with Gazi University, coordinated by the Association of Academicians Union (AAU).

The programme, held in the Conference Hall of Block F at Gazi Education Faculty, was attended by Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Yücel Gelişli, Dean of Gazi Education Faculty Prof. Dr. Mahmut Selvi, Secretary General Ragıp Akyürek, Prof. Dr. İsmail Şahin, President of the AAU, experts from the Ministry of National Education's Directorate General of Private Education and Guidance Services, faculty members, guests, and students.

The programme began with a moment of silence and the recitation of the Turkish National Anthem, followed by a speech by İsmail Şahin.

Addressing the participants in his opening speech, Prof. Dr. İsmail Şahin, President of the AAU, stated, “The project we are carrying out in collaboration with Gazi University and the Academics Union Association, entitled ‘Every Student Matters! Improving Inclusive Education Services for Students with Learning Difficulties’, aims to make life easier for our children who require special education. I would like to express our delight at being a partner in this project. Today, many students who need special education are educated in inclusive educational environments. Unfortunately, this is due to our lack of knowledge about specific learning difficulties. Therefore, we attach great importance to awareness-raising activities."

He thus drew attention to the importance of awareness-raising activities.

Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Yücel Gelişli stated, “The project titled ‘Every Student Matters! Improving Inclusive Education Services for Students with Learning Difficulties,’ which aims to make the lives of children in need of special education easier, is one of the meaningful initiatives we are jointly carrying out with the Academicians Union Association.” Emphasizing that Gazi University is pleased to collaborate with civil society organizations on impactful projects, Prof. Dr. Gelişli added: “I would like to thank everyone here today for their commitment to addressing the issue of learning difficulties. It is a pleasure to be part of this project, which includes awareness-raising efforts for children with learning difficulties, their parents, and the teachers and administrators who strive to help these children overcome their challenges. I extend my sincere respect to all of you.”

During the panel held thereafter, experts in the field of specific learning difficulties shared valuable insights under the moderation of Dr. Ufuk Özkubat, Deputy Director of EPAR at Gazi University. Prof. Dr. Gürkan Güldenoğlu, in his talk on reading and reading comprehension in special learning difficulties, presented the latest research findings and effective strategies in this area.

Prof. Dr. Macid Ayhan Melekoğlu, in his presentation titled “What Is and What Is Not a Specific Learning Difficulty?”, provided valuable insights to address the lack of knowledge and common misconceptions surrounding specific learning difficulties.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veysel Aksoy, in his talk titled “Early Developmental Indicators of Specific Learning Difficulties,” shared important information to help teachers and parents identify children who may experience learning difficulties at an early stage.

Following the panel, a Q&A session was held, during which experts answered participants’ questions of interest. The event concluded after an interactive and informative discussion.