Turkey education sector highlights new investments, online teacher seminars and union reforms

Education Minister Yusuf Tekin presented a review of the past 23 years of school‑building and technology upgrades, noting reduced class sizes, internet access in all 65 000 schools and smart‑board installations in 650 000 classrooms. The Ministry of National Education announced that the end‑of‑year professional development seminars for teachers will be delivered online on 29‑30 June, with optional participation for school administrators and no additional pay for the sessions.

The teachers’ union Education Bir‑Sen announced a collective decision to make the mandatory “Student Development Reports” voluntary, arguing that the paperwork adds an illegal workload and infringes teachers’ rest rights. The union cited national and international legal standards in its appeal.

In diplomatic news, Müberra Öztürk was appointed as Turkey’s education attaché in Vienna.

In Northern Cyprus, the Da Vinci Science and Arts Centre reported record placements for its students in national high‑school entrance exams.

Finally, the FenTECH 2026 Science, Technology and Innovation Festival kicked off in Istanbul, bringing together Imam Hatip school students for competitions in robotics, AI, hackathons and design, aiming to foster technology‑focused education.