CHILDREN DAY
23 April 2008
 
On occasion of the 23rd April Children’s Festival, Islamabad PAKTURK International Pre-School and Junior Section has organised a unique function where elected students for Principal, Vice Principal and Teachers posts have taken over the symbolic responsibility of running the School.
Having been elected by their fellows as a result of an election campaign, the students as Principal, Vice Principals (Admin and Student Services), and Subject Teachers assumed their duties for a whole school day after a change-of-post ceremony in the morning. Mr Ahmet Kester, Principal; Mrs Nisar Mubashir, Vice Principal; and Mrs Ayse Ucar, Vice Principal conferred their duties to the elected students on April 23, 2008.
The School Campus was decorated in a fitting manner. Teachers elected from Classes 4-5 taught to Classes 1-2 for the day and rather revolutionary, they gave no homework for their students! On being asked the reason, they maintained that it was an administrative order.
Principal-elect Muhammad Tekaev of Class 5B advised his students to get engaged in social activities in support of academic work and mentioned that a healthy mind would exist only in healthy body. He also highlighted the importance of punctuality and orderliness in establishing success as a tradition.
Vice Principal (Student Services) Beyza Nur Koken of Class 4A assumed her day’s responsibility from Mrs Ayse Ucar and in her inaugural speech, Ms Koken maintained that she would provide the students with opportunities for more edutainment to contribute to quality academic work… Ms Aliza Gul of Class 4B, Vice-Principal elect (Admin) assumed the duties from Mrs Nisar Mubashir and in her inaugural speech Ms Gul mentioned that till a second order, all home assignments were null and void. Aliza Gul further encouraged students to have fun and the least academic burden within this week.    
An exclusive art exhibition on occasion of the Children’s Week had already been opened and students whose works were elected by the Art Jury were awarded by Muhammad Tekaev, Principal and Vice Principals, Beyza Nur Koken and Aliza Gul.
23rd April Children’s Festival is a children’s festival that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, bestowed to Turkish children and that has been celebrated among countries since 1979. The first celebration of it was held on April 23rd, 1920, when the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) was proclaimed. Since this proclamation marked a new beginning during the days of Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922), this day was gifted to the future of the Turkish nation, the children.
Since 1979, this Festival is organized so as to improve the feelings of fraternity, love and friendship among children and also to contribute to a world, where they will live in peace.