Turkey grants scholarships to 20,000 Syrian students

Turkey has granted scholarships to 20,000 Syrian students, a senior representative of a Turkish education institution told Anadolu Agency.

Sayit Yusuf, deputy head of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), said: "We have awarded scholarships to 20,000 Syrian university students. Approximately 4,500 of these are full bursary as part of Turkey's scholarships."

Yusuf said his country is training Syrians for reconstruction of their country in the future.

The trained Syrians will contribute to the reconstruction of Syria, Yusuf said, adding the scholars will return to their country as "friends of Turkey."

Yusuf said the YTB is trying to help people in need or oppressed in every part of the world.

According to the YTB data, a total of 16,000 students from 160 countries are studying in Turkey as part of the Turkey's full bursary scholarship program.

Turkey, as the largest refugee-hosting country in the world, hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees.