Turkey's Ministry of Education Issues New School Regulation

Turkey education reform school search authority parent appointment system absenteeism rules early childhood enrollment

The Ministry of National Education (MEB) published a comprehensive amendment to the School Pre‑School and Primary Education Institutions Regulation in the Official Gazette, taking effect for the 2026‑2027 academic year. The changes expand school security powers, allowing staff to search classrooms, desks, lockers, rows, tables and student cupboards, with written records to protect students' personal rights.

A digital appointment system will be introduced for parent‑teacher and parent‑administration meetings, requiring scheduling through each school's official website. Student registration will be carried out automatically in July via the e‑Okul system using the National Address Database; where necessary, parents may be asked to provide utility‑bill proof of residence. Transfer provisions were loosened for children of martyrs, special‑needs, and protected children, removing address quotas and allowing sibling or employee‑parent transfers.

Absence monitoring is tightened: students with 5, 10 or 15 days of unexcused absence will trigger SMS, post or other notices to parents, and those with 20 days or more will no longer receive thank‑you or commendation certificates. From fifth grade onward, report cards will include a Development Report covering social‑emotional growth. Additional rules classify misuse of digital devices, political symbols and other misconduct as disciplinary offenses. The reforms also permit children aged 36‑68 months to be enrolled in main‑class sections in districts lacking official kindergartens, with the option to open a new class branch when sufficient numbers of 36‑44‑month‑old children are present.

Entities: Ministry of National Education (MEB) · Ministry of National Education (Turkey) · National Address Database · Official Gazette · Official Gazette (Turkey) · Parents · School Student Behavior Evaluation Board · School principals · Students · Turkey's Ministry of Education · Turkish students and parents · Turkish teachers

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 19 SOURCES] Absence monitoring will send SMS or written notices after 5, 10 and 15 days of unexcused absence; 20 days of unexcused absence disqualifies students from receiving thank‑you or appreciation letters. (belongs)
[● 18 SOURCES] The new school regulation was published in the Official Gazette and will be effective for the 2026‑2027 school year. (belongs)
[● 20 SOURCES] The regulation expands school personnel's authority to conduct searches in classrooms, lockers and other areas, with written records required. (belongs)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2026 teacher placement (mazeret) transfer application period was extended and district‑group restrictions were removed. (ministerial announcement)
[● 18 SOURCES] Transfer rules now allow children of martyrs, special‑needs and protected children to transfer without address quotas. (belongs)
[● 20 SOURCES] Student registration will be conducted automatically via the e‑Okul system each July using address data, with possible verification through utility bills. (belongs)
[● 20 SOURCES] Unauthorized use of digital devices and political symbols in school are classified as disciplinary offenses. (MEB)
[● 20 SOURCES] Report cards will include a Development Report on students' social‑emotional growth starting from fifth grade. (belongs)
[● 19 SOURCES] Parent‑teacher meetings must be scheduled through a digital appointment system on each school's official website. (belongs)
[● 11 SOURCES] School authorities may conduct searches in classrooms, lockers, desks, corridors and other school areas, respecting students' personal rights and must keep written records of each search. (new)
[● 18 SOURCES] The new school regulation was published in the Official Gazette for the 2026‑2027 academic year. (MEB)
[● 19 SOURCES] The regulation allows children aged 36‑68 months to be enrolled in main‑class sections of schools in districts without official kindergartens, and permits opening a sub‑section when enough 36‑44‑month (belongs)