Syrian teachers long to celebrate Teachers’ Day at home

As teachers across the world marked Teachers' Day on Friday, for Syrian tutors in Turkey the day was tinged with sadness at being away from their homeland.

"I am happy as we could mark Teachers' Day here but if we were in our own country we would be happier," Ahmet Helv, 28, told Anadolu Agency.

Like many other Syrians, Helv is happy to be able to practice his profession in safety but longs to return to Syria.

"If the war ends, I would like to continue my job in my own country," Helv, a gym teacher, said.

"I hope everything returns to normal and we will mark the next Teachers' Day in our country."

Since civil war erupted in Syria in March 2011, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the fighting and more than 10 million displaced, according to the UN.

Turkey's official figures show that the country has spent more than $25 billion in hosting more than 3 million Syrian refugees.

Savas Tekin, the manager of a temporary school in the central province of Kayseri, said there were 36 Syrians working as teachers in the province.

"They surely want to mark Teachers' Day in their own country, in Syria," he said. "They are sad as they are here."

Turkey has set up dozens of schools and kindergardens for Syrian children over the last seven years.

Hanan Bekdas, 35, came to Turkey four years ago and teaches at a temporary center in Kayseri.

"Of course, Syria is my own country and I am very sad that I cannot do my job there but we will also celebrate this day with our colleagues here as well," he said.