Northern Cyprus and Turkey Advance Higher Education Reforms

In the Turkish‑controlled northern part of Cyprus, Democratic Party secretary Serhat Akpınar urged that the Higher‑Education Amendment Bill be placed on the parliamentary agenda without delay. He praised the planned increase in university enrollment slots for the 2026‑27 academic year and called for strengthening YÖDAK’s institutional capacity, improving quality assurance, and establishing a joint “higher‑education diplomacy” with Turkey to secure international recognition of Northern Cyprus diplomas.

In Turkey, Istanbul MP Doğan Bekin tabled a written parliamentary motion demanding answers from Education Minister Yusuf Tekin about the fairness of the Ortaöğretim Başarı Puanı (OBP) system, which adds 30‑60 points to university admission scores. Bekin alleged that grade inflation in private schools and similar practices in public schools undermine equal opportunity, and he asked the minister to detail oversight measures and steps to ensure equitable assessment across schools.