The recent global understanding of development envisages, on top of economic achievements, an approach for the reduction of deprivations experienced by citizens and elimination of poverty. To that end, level of development of countries is determined by taking into consideration such factors as literacy rate and average life expectancy in addition to economic indicators. Within the framework of this global approach, the importance attached to educational and healthcare services in Turkey has been increasing gradually.

For eliminating the inequalities faced by our citizens, alleviating certain types of deprivation, and reducing poverty, education must be emphasized as much as industry. Yet, increasing cost of education eliminates the equality of opportunities which must be ensured for every individual. Regardless of how talented or hard-working they are, children of less fortunate families cannot enjoy even the earlier stages of education. This causes the loss of so much precious human resources.

In the face of the economic stability programs with very high social cost, which had to be implemented in our country for so many years, the State is incapacitated to meet the ever-increasing needs and expectations in the field of education. Therefore, in these days in which public resources are not sufficient, it is very important that every individual, especially well-to-do citizens, contributes proportionately to his/her earnings to the solution for the fundamental problems of our national education system.

TEV was established with this mission on 4 May 1967 by 201 pro-education Turkish intelligentsia under the leadership of late Vehbi Koc. The founders addressed our generous people on that day as follows:

“To ensure that young people in our country who would like to have an education but cannot afford to do so, young people who deserve all kinds of attention and assistance can have an education;

To ensure that educational means are equally accessible to every young person so that equality of opportunities, which is one of the prerequisites of social justice, is secured;

Considering the fact that even free and compulsory primary education, which is regarded from the constitutional point of view as a public duty, has not been rendered with a solution since the earlier days of the Republic, and that two fifth of children at school age are still unable to attend school;

And considering the fact, due to the foregoing, that it is an inevitable national duty on the part of businessmen, intelligentsia and our people to share the burden of the state in some areas which have become heavier and denser, to try to help the public sector in such matters and services, and to assume responsibility thereabout;

And having faith in the necessity of starting an educational movement with this sentiment;

We hereby establish this Foundation for both ensuring the continuity of this said movement and securing the sources of revenues thereunder.”

Dr. Nejat Eczacibasi was elected as the first president of the Foundation. This function was performed by Vehbi Koc from 7 November 1969 to 25 February 1996, and by Ahmet Aydin Bolak from 28 March 1996 to 25 July 2001. By virtue of the amendment introduced on 26 June 2001 to the Foundation Articles of Association, Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors was separated from each other. Ord. Prof. Sulhi Donmezer was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees on 26 July 2001, and Omer Dinckok was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for a period of three years.

Within the 40-year period since its establishment, TEV offered 150.136 domestic scholarships and 1.091 foreign scholarships; built 14 primary school buildings, 1 Anatolian High School building, 1 Fine Arts Anatolian High School building, 1 Public Training Center building, 1 Apprentice Training Center building, and 2 student dormitories in different regions of our country; and conducted 2 researches on education. As of 1 August 2001, TEV has been operating “Turkish Education Foundation Inanc Turkes Private High School” in the province of Kocaeli, subprovince of Gebze, at Muallim Koy Location, which school provides free boarding education to the talented children of needy families.