The Awareness Raising Meeting entitled “My Apprentice Students on the Path to Mastery” was held in Kahramanmaraş on 13 October 2026 under the Vocational Education and Training Programme for Employment (VET4JOB-II), funded by the European Union and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education’s Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education and the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), under the leadership of Expertise France and in partnership with EDUSER.
Bringing together representatives of businesses that currently train apprentice students or have the potential to train them, the meeting addressed the importance of enabling young people to develop their vocational skills in safe, training-oriented environments, protecting children’s rights and preventing the risks of child labour. Discussions also focused on business responsibilities, reducing risks in the workplace and strengthening occupational health and safety practices.
Oray Güven, Deputy Governor of Kahramanmaraş, attended the meeting. The opening speeches were delivered by Cuma Güler, Vice President of the Kahramanmaraş Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (KAMESOB), and Turan Akpınar, Director of Kahramanmaraş Provincial Directorate of National Education. Their remarks highlighted the role of vocational education in preparing young people for the future, the importance of cooperation between schools and businesses, and the need to ensure that apprentice students develop their vocational skills in safe working environments. They also emphasised the responsibilities of businesses in supporting young people’s professional development and promoting a culture of workplace safety.
As part of the programme, Kahramanmaraş Provincial Directorate of National Education delivered a presentation sharing information and statistical data on vocational education in the province. The presentation outlined the vocational fields and branches available in Kahramanmaraş and highlighted the importance of vocational training in helping young people acquire a profession, develop practical skills and prepare for working life.
This was followed by a detailed presentation by Gülcan Eriş, VET4JOB-II expert, on the distinction between apprenticeship training and child labour. The presentation covered apprentice students’ rights, businesses’ responsibilities, the establishment of safe and education-oriented learning environments, and occupational health and safety.
The meeting continued in an interactive format, with active participation from business representatives. Participants had the opportunity to assess potential risks in their workplaces and discuss solutions to prevent them. Through case studies, the discussions explored practices to enhance apprentice students’ safety, prevent the risks of child labour and improve the quality of vocational training in businesses.
The “My Apprentice Students on the Path to Mastery” Awareness Raising Meeting concluded with case studies and participant feedback. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of a vocational education approach that places apprentice students’ right to education and safety at its centre, strengthens businesses’ responsibilities and contributes to the prevention of child labour.
