Turkey's Ministry of National Education implements strict new school and teacher regulations

The Turkish Ministry of National Education has implemented strict new oversight measures affecting both educators and international private schools.

Teachers participating in central e-exams face severe penalties for minor delays. Under current regulations, educators who fail to sign in during the designated 30-minute window before an exam session are automatically flagged for neglecting their duties. Even a delay of one or two minutes can result in a 12-month ban from all exam assignments, leading to significant financial losses for teachers due to lost compensation. Unions are calling for more proportional disciplinary actions that distinguish between intentional absence and unavoidable delays caused by traffic or transit issues.

Additionally, the Ministry has issued instructions regarding international private educational institutions. These schools, which follow international curricula, are strictly prohibited from enrolling Turkish citizens. To enforce this, authorities are conducting rigorous document checks during registration periods. Schools found enrolling Turkish students face administrative fines of 660,600 TL—equivalent to 20 times the gross minimum wage—as well as the potential cancellation of their operating licenses and business permits. These sanctions also apply to students who acquire Turkish citizenship after enrollment if they remain in the institution beyond the legally permitted timeframe.