Turkish lawmaker challenges private school textbook price hikes

Turkish lawmaker Cem Avşar has brought the issue of excessive price increases in private schools to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Avşar submitted a written parliamentary inquiry to Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin regarding high costs for textbooks, meal services, clothing, and stationery.

Reports indicate that some private schools have implemented price hikes exceeding 50-60%, with certain textbook sets rising from 49,000 lira to 80,000 lira. Avşar emphasized that under Law No. 5580 on Private Education Institutions, schools cannot operate solely for profit-making purposes and must adhere to specific regulations regarding service fees.

The inquiry seeks clarification on how frequently these institutions are inspected, whether illegal pricing practices have been identified, and what sanctions are applied to schools violating the legal limits on fee increases.