[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey teacher dress code and allowance updates

Updated 15 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-21 07:55 UTC → 2026-10-08 13:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) has finalized teacher preparation allowances for the 2026-2027 academic year, with permanent teachers set to receive 8,599.55 TL and contracted teachers 7,386.00 TL in late September 2026. Parallel to these financial updates, the Ministry has reinforced a directive regarding mandatory teacher uniforms. In August 2026, the Ministry issued a circular encouraging the use of aprons to enhance “institutional reputation and professional dignity.” By early September, Minister Yusuf Tekin expanded this via a circular to all 81 provinces, releasing a ‘Teacher Apron Standards Guide’ to ensure nationwide uniformity. The guide stipulates that aprons must be “simple, practical, comfortable, and aesthetic,” featuring specific technical standards such as being white with three pockets. In response, opposition has escalated into organized resistance and legal action. Unions including Eğitim Gücü Sen, Hürriyetçi Eğitim Sen, and TÖBSEN announced members will wear free civilian clothing instead of aprons. Anadolu Eğitim Sen and Türk Eğitim-Sen also stated they would maintain existing decisions to allow casual attire. Additionally, Eğitim-İş has filed a lawsuit to annul the apron provisions, arguing they lack a legal basis. By mid-September, teachers staged protests in Ankara against the white uniform directive, arguing the Ministry is prioritizing “trivial details” over systemic failures. On September 19, Minister Yusuf Tekin addressed the ongoing debate, defending the white apron mandate as a measure to ensure teachers are “easily identifiable for security purposes” and to address complaints received via CİMER regarding “inappropriate attire” or brand messaging. He also noted that white aprons might provide a more comfortable option than strict civil servant dress codes. During the same address, Tekin noted that while mid-term breaks remain unchanged for the current year, they may be reconsidered in the future to accommodate religious holidays and maintain the mandatory 180-day school year.

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