Turkey Ministry of National Education implements new teacher assignment controls

The Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) is implementing several major administrative changes regarding teaching staff and personnel management.

A new digital oversight system via the MEBBİS infrastructure will go into effect on August 17, 2026. This system is designed to prevent irregular teacher assignments by using real-time data to monitor norm capacities. Under the new rules, teachers cannot be reassigned to schools that do not have a verified need for their specific branch, and norm-surplus teachers will be restricted from being sent to different districts outside of identified needs. The ministry aims to protect the public budget and ensure educational stability by automating these controls.

In terms of staffing, the ministry has announced several appointment results. This includes the results for first-time school administrator appointments and merit-based transfers for teachers seeking relocation due to family, health, or security reasons. Additionally, under the PIKTES IV project, the ministry is recruiting temporary instructors in Turkish, Arabic, and guidance counseling to support the social integration of foreign students in schools with high concentrations of non-national students.

Regarding PIKTES, the Eğitim-Bir-Sen union has released a policy note highlighting the challenges faced by these educators. The report notes that while these instructors play a vital role in student integration, they are currently employed under fixed-term contracts under Labor Law No. 4857, leading to calls for more permanent employment status.