started · updated
Yusuf Tekin addresses Turkish education policy and school calendar
Turkish National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin has addressed several key issues regarding the 2026-2027 academic year. A primary focus is the future of mid-term breaks. Tekin noted that while breaks are currently planned, they may be reconsidered in years when religious holidays like Ramadan and Eid coincide with the breaks, making it difficult to maintain the mandatory 180-day school year and the legal two-month teacher holiday period. For the current academic year, the scheduled breaks remain unchanged.
Regarding school discipline and environment, Tekin confirmed that restrictions on mobile phone use in classrooms will continue to prevent distractions. He also discussed teacher attire, noting that the ministry has encouraged the use of lab coats (önlük) to help distinguish teachers from students and visitors, following complaints regarding certain clothing choices and messages.
Additionally, the Minister addressed school registration issues, stating that new measures are being implemented to prevent address fraud used to secure spots in specific schools. He also clarified that the ministry will not implement a provincial mandate (il emri) for teachers seeking transfers due to insufficient quotas, as staffing needs are determined on a school-by-school basis. Finally, Tekin highlighted Turkey's improved PISA performance in reading, math, and science compared to previous years.
Entities
CNN Türk · Eğitim-İş · Ministry of National Education · OECD · Turkey · Yusuf Tekin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Minister Yusuf Tekin stated that mid-term breaks may be abolished in years when they cannot be aligned with religious holidays to maintain the required 180-day school calendar. www.gazetepencere.com · sesgazetesi.com.tr · www.mynet.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Measures have been implemented to prevent students from bringing mobile phones into classrooms to improve educational success. www.gazetepencere.com · sesgazetesi.com.tr · www.mynet.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] New measures have been taken regarding the address registration system to prevent students from being enrolled in different schools using false addresses. www.gazetepencere.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry is considering a new regulation regarding teacher attire, including the potential use of aprons to distinguish them from others. www.gazetepencere.com · www.mynet.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Turkey is the only OECD country to significantly increase performance in reading, mathematics, and science simultaneously between 2015 and 2025. sesgazetesi.com.tr