Debate over Turkish education policy and structure

Discourse regarding the Turkish education system has intensified, focusing on the structure of compulsory schooling and gender integration. Initial criticism from columnist Yusuf Kaplan characterized the 12-year compulsory education system as “Turkey’s suicide,” arguing it produces a generation lacking cultural identity and contributes to social and economic instability.

This debate expanded to include calls from the newspaper Yeni Akit to end co-education, describing the mixed-gender model as a “pedagogical error of the century.” In response, the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) condemned these proposals as a “reactionary attack” against secularism. The TKP also criticized Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, alleging that policies regarding single-sex schools for girls may facilitate the influence of religious groups.

Amidst these policy debates, concerns have emerged regarding school attendance. Data from Eğitim-İş indicates a significant rise in children of compulsory school age not enrolled in formal education, with figures potentially exceeding 800,000.