In Şanlıurfa, southeastern Türkiye, the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a teacher training program on 24 December 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in seasonal agriculture. The initiative included representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and focused on ensuring children’s uninterrupted access to education, particularly those from families involved in seasonal agricultural work.
The training was conducted under the framework of the ILO’s Integrated Model for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Seasonal Agriculture in Hazelnut Harvesting in Türkiye, funded by the Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO). Organized in collaboration with the Pikolo Association, the program emphasized the pivotal role teachers play in preventing child labour and keeping at-risk children engaged in schooling.
Ayşegül Özbek Kansu, Senior Project Coordinator at the ILO Office for Türkiye, opened the session by presenting the ILO’s strategies for combating child labour, relevant international labour standards, and ongoing work in Türkiye, highlighting the importance of a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach.
Prof. Dr. Murat Gürkan Gülcan, consultant to the Pikolo Association, provided guidance on national circulars and non-formal education modules issued by the Directorate General of Lifelong Learning of the Ministry of National Education, showing how these regulatory frameworks support education pathways for children from seasonal agricultural worker families.
The program concluded with the Monitoring and Evaluation team from the Pikolo Association explaining project activities and the monitoring processes, stressing how teachers’ field observations are crucial for data-driven evaluations.
Through close cooperation with public institutions, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, the ILO continues to work toward preventing child labour in seasonal agriculture and strengthening access to quality education for children in Türkiye.
