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Turkey education reforms: placements, exams, and OYSS

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2026-10-23 02:38 UTC → 2026-10-25 07:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Ministry of National Education (MEB) is advancing its 2026–27 reform agenda through enhanced digital oversight, personnel management, and updated school regulations. A new School Management Regulation (No. 33323) has introduced rules regarding school security, attendance monitoring, and digital use, including a continued ban on mobile phone use in classrooms. Regarding teacher management, the Ministry has initiated relocation processes for surplus personnel and recruitment for paid teaching positions via e-Devlet. In September 2026, the MEB announced schedules for administrative appointments, with preference periods for principals and assistant principals running from September 17 to September 21. Additionally, a second guide for voluntary inter-provincial transfers was released, waiving the three-year service requirement for 12 provinces facing high vacancies, including İstanbul, Şanlıurfa, and Van. In late September, the MEB also updated extra lesson fees and opened applications for extracurricular ~~activities, allowing~~ activities. New regulations have tightened financial and disciplinary oversight. To receive professional development seminar fees, teachers must now achieve a 100% completion rate on digital modules via the Teacher Information Network (ÖBA) alongside face-to-face attendance. Furthermore, teachers participating in central e-exams face a 12-month ban from exam assignments for failing to ~~earn additional pay~~ sign in within a designated 30-minute window, even for ~~leading social, artistic, or scientific programs.~~ minor delays. Regarding holiday compensation, while permanent staff receive full fees during Republic Day, substitute teachers and those in Support and Training Courses (DYK) are only paid for work actually performed. Curriculum reforms are being rolled out under the ‘Turkey Century Maarif Model’, shifting toward a skill- and value-based system. To support this, the Ministry is implementing the Common Written Exam System (OYSS) for grades 5 through 11. The system has been officially launched via the Education Information Network (EBA) infrastructure, utilizing a hybrid model where teachers create two original open-ended questions while the rest are drawn from a centralized digital pool. The OYSS faces significant opposition; several teachers' unions have filed a lawsuit with the Council of State to annul the system, arguing it violates the Teaching Profession Law by reducing teachers to “mere administrators of centrally provided questions.” Additionally, the MEB issued a budget warning to school administrations regarding over 16 million TL in unused travel allowance funds that must be utilized by October 26, 2026, or face cancellation.

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