Turkish education sector faces uncertainty over new ministry regulations

The Turkish Ministry of National Education has issued a circular outlining preparations for the upcoming academic year, including the implementation of the ‘Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli’ and new regulations regarding school capacity and student dress codes. However, the announcement has faced criticism from educators and unions regarding systemic readiness.

Türk Eğitim-Sen has expressed concern over the MEBBİS Assignment Module. Mürsel Özata, Muğla Branch President, noted that despite a scheduled start date of August 17, 2026, the module is not fully active, creating uncertainty for school administrations and teachers regarding lesson planning and staffing. There are also concerns regarding the lack of clear criteria for special assignment permissions and the potential impact of ending assignments that exceed six months.

Additionally, union representatives have argued that schools lack the necessary physical infrastructure and personnel to support the new Maarif Model. Critics point to shortages in specialized teachers—such as physical education, music, and visual arts—and a lack of facilities like workshops and sports halls, suggesting that the model's goal of discovering student talents may be difficult to achieve under current conditions.