# Turkey education reforms and AI platform growth – July 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-vocational-education-expansion > Updated: 2026-07-26T08:02:33.000Z. Sources: 84. Developments: 27. The 2025‑2026 academic year ended on 26 June 2026, with the new term set for 14 September. The Ministry of National Education continued its Climate Change Action Plan (2026‑2030), the “Green Homeland” programme, free textbook distribution, uniform provision and the construction of hundreds of thousands of new classrooms, including the earthquake‑resistant Silimkent Primary School in Çorum. Education Minister Yusuf Tekin announced a comprehensive revision of the history curriculum, seeking a balanced Ottoman‑Republic narrative and replacing controversial terminology. The proposal sparked opposition criticism and two criminal complaints from former Ankara Bar Association presidents. In late July, Tekin highlighted the “Turkey Century Education Model” at the Erzurum Yayla Festival, framing the curriculum changes as part of a broader effort to nurture a generation proud of national and spiritual values. Digital learning expanded rapidly. The National Education Academy’s platform now serves over 1.2 million users. The AI‑driven foreign‑language platform DİLİM, launched on 16 June, recorded more than 220 000 users in its first month, delivering over 3.2 million learning actions and 51 000 AI‑assisted chat sessions. Ministry data released in late July confirmed that the AI‑based system MEBİ was accessed by 5.6 million students, teachers and parents during 2025‑2026, with over 4 million student logins, 730 000 teachers and 850 000 parents, completing 7 million practice exams and generating 2.7 billion page views. Combined AI services now exceed 5.8 million users and billions of page views. Both platforms operate on a secure, closed‑circuit infrastructure, offering AI‑enhanced assessment, teacher monitoring and culturally relevant content aligned with the CEFR. The reforms and digital tools are presented as part of a broader modernisation drive that also emphasizes environmental sustainability and improved teacher‑to‑student ratios. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-26: Turkey Education Minister Yusuf Tekin champions national heritage and curriculum reform in Erzurum Education Minister Yusuf Tekin highlighted Erzurum’s heritage, praised local associations, and outlined Turkey’s Century Education Model and curriculum reforms, citing investment gains and presidential support. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-champions-national-heritage-and-curriculum-reform-in-erzurum ### 2026-07-22: Turkey's Ministry of Education AI Platforms Reach Over 5.8 Million Users Turkey's education ministry reports 5.6 million users of its AI learning platform MEBİ and 220 000 users of the DİLİM AI foreign‑language system, highlighting rapid digital adoption. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-ministry-of-education-ai-platforms-reach-over-58-million-users ### 2026-07-19: Turkey's Ministry of Education AI Language Platform DİLİM Hits 220,000 Users Turkey's education ministry reports its AI language platform DİLİM reached over 220,000 users and logged more than 3.2 million learning actions in its first month. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-ministry-of-education-ai-language-platform-dilim-hits-220000-users ### 2026-07-17: Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin pushes Ottoman‑Republic curriculum overhaul amid legal challenges Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin overhauls history curriculum to link Ottoman and Republic eras, removes “Crusades” term, cites school investments, and faces opposition and a criminal complaint alleging a 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-announces-history-curriculum-changes ### 2026-07-12: Turkey advances education with new school building and curriculum terminology debate Turkey builds a new primary school in Corum while the education minister proposes renaming the War of Independence to “National Struggle” in curricula. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-advances-education-with-new-school-building-and-curriculum-terminology-debate ### 2026-07-08: Turkey Announces Open High School Exam Dates as New Vocational School Construction Advances Turkey sets Open High School exam dates for July 2026 and reports ongoing construction of a new 40‑classroom vocational high school in Söke, Aydın. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-announces-open-high-school-exam-dates-as-new-vocational-school-construction-advances ### 2026-07-07: Turkey's Education Ministry removes 'Kurtuluş Savaşı' from school textbooks Turkey's education minister Yusuf Tekin removed “Kurtuluş Savaşı” from textbooks, replacing it with “Milli Mücadele,” sparking protests and debate over historic revisions. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yusuf-tekins-textbook-rename-provokes-union-outcry ### 2026-07-05: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin swaps 'Kurtuluş Savaşı' for 'Milli Mücadele' in curricula Turkey's education ministry will replace “Kurtuluş Savaşı” with “Milli Mücadele” in textbooks as part of a curriculum reform, sparking criticism from opposition politicians. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-replaces-kurtulu-sava-with-mill-mcadele-in-textbooks ### 2026-06-30: Turkey's Education Ministry Unveils Vocational School Overhaul and Teacher Pay Increases Turkey's education ministry plans to consolidate IT programmes in vocational schools, boosts teacher pay by ~14%, updates diploma processing, and proposes mandatory parent‑school training. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-ministry-launches-teacher-development-plan-diploma-system-upgrade-and-compulsory-p ### 2026-06-27: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin rolls out arts‑focused teacher training and curriculum overhaul Education Minister Yusuf Tekin launched teacher theatre training, new curriculum reforms and cultural programmes under Turkey's Century Maarif Model, emphasizing arts, digital wellbeing and environmental health 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-rolls-out-artsfocused-teacher-training-and-curriculum-overhau ### 2026-06-26: Kars Governor Hosts International Erasmus+ Youth Capacity Project Kars Governor Ziya Polat hosted delegates from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, North Macedonia and Italy for the Erasmus+ KA153‑YOU youth‑capacity project, emphasizing digital, climate and inclusion goals. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/malatya-youth-participation-summit-addresses-disinformation-and-media-literacy ### 2026-06-24: Education Minister Yusuf Tekin Sets AGS Teacher‑Exam Schedule and Branches Imam Hatip Courses Yusuf Tekin set the AGS teacher‑exam timetable, will branch imam‑hatip subjects, ended the 2025‑26 school year with new textbooks, uniforms and environmental programmes, while teacher unions protest ongoing pay 30 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-announces-branching-of-imam-hatip-vocational-courses ### 2026-06-22: Turkey's Education Minister Launches AI-Powered Learning Apps Education Minister Yusuf Tekin unveiled AI-driven learning platforms MEBI and DİLİM, part of Turkey’s new education reforms, at an Istanbul award ceremony. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-launches-ai-powered-learning-apps ### 2026-06-22: Erzurum Unveils Pre‑School Education Programme Under Turkey’s Century Education Model Erzurum’s National Education Academy launched a pre‑school programme under Turkey’s Century Education Model, with ministry officials stressing holistic child development and teacher training. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/erzurum-unveils-preschool-education-programme-under-turkeys-century-education-model ### 2026-06-20: Turkey education sector highlights new investments, online teacher seminars and union reforms Turkey's education ministry announced infrastructure gains, online teacher seminars, a union move to make student reports voluntary, a new Vienna attaché, record exam results in Cyprus and the FenTECH tech fest 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-highlights-23-years-of-school-improvements-in-denizli ### 2026-06-20: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin reports 750,000 classrooms in 2025‑2026 Turkey’s Education Minister Yusuf Tekin announced 750,000 classrooms for 2025‑26, cited UNDP praise, and compared today’s schools with 2002 teacher letters from the Ecevit era. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-contrasts-ecevit-era-school-letters-with-todays-reforms ### 2026-06-18: Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin Announces 750,000 Classrooms Nationwide Minister Yusuf Tekin reported Turkey now has about 750,000 classrooms, doubled teacher numbers and lower student‑teacher ratios, citing investments in Denizli and a new community center in Erzincan. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-announces-750000-classrooms-nationwide ### 2026-06-18: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin announces new Alevi‑Bektashi curriculum modules and school infrastructure boost Education Minister Yusuf Tekin opened a folk centre in Erzincan, approved 12 Alevi‑Bektashi curriculum modules, and said Turkey now operates 750,000 classrooms. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-ministry-readies-alevibektashi-curriculum-modules ### 2026-06-18: Turkey Education Minister Yusuf Tekin flags Tunceli student decline and national classroom expansion Turkey’s Education Minister Yusuf Tekin warned of falling student numbers in Tunceli while noting a surge to 750,000 classrooms nationwide, with major upgrades in Denizli. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-flags-tunceli-student-decline-and-national-classroom-expansion ### 2026-06-18: Turkey's Education Ministry Revamps Curriculum, Eliminates Technology and Design Course Turkey's Education Ministry will drop the Technology and Design class from middle schools and revise curricula for nine subjects, with phased implementation beginning in 2026‑27. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-ministry-revamps-curriculum-eliminates-technology-and-design-course ### 2026-06-17: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin Highlights Major School Infrastructure Gains Education Minister Yusuf Tekin cites a 2.5‑fold rise in Bursa teachers, 750 k school classes nationwide, curriculum reforms and new gastronomy schools under Turkey’s Century of Education Model. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-highlights-bursa-school-upgrades ### 2026-06-16: Turkey's Kars Governor Ziya Polat Visits High School as Bursa Hosts Rural Science Workshops Turkey's Kars governor toured a high school celebrating student projects, while Bursa's city hall and university delivered three‑day science workshops for village pupils. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-kars-governor-ziya-polat-visits-high-school-as-bursa-hosts-rural-science-workshops ### 2026-06-16: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin faces scrutiny over school safety and teacher workload Turkey’s Education Minister Yusuf Tekin was questioned over delayed rebuilding of earthquake‑risk schools, a university murder case, and teacher workload complaints in Bursa. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-faces-parliamentary-grilling-over-campus-murder-and-unsafe-sc ### 2026-06-08: Turkish States Education Ministers Meet in Kazakhstan, Agree on Expanded Cooperation Turkish States education ministers met in Kazakhstan, approving joint digital networks, student‑teacher exchanges and mutual diploma recognition to boost regional cooperation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-states-education-ministers-meet-in-kazakhstan-agree-on-expanded-cooperation ### 2026-06-08: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin Leads Turkic States Education Summit in Turkistan Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin chaired the Turkic States summit in Turkistan, meeting Kyrgyz and Azerbaijani ministers to boost AI‑driven curricula, joint textbooks and education cooperation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-leads-turkic-states-education-summit-in-turkistan ### 2026-06-06: Turkey's Education Minister Yusuf Tekin Highlights Record Budget Share and Digital Classroom Push Turkey's education minister says the country ranks among the top OECD spenders on education, boasts 750 000 interactive‑board classrooms, and is shifting to a skill‑focused curriculum. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-yusuf-tekin-highlights-record-budget-share-and-digital-classroom-push ### 2026-05-07: Turkey's Education Minister Reports 41% Vocational Student Enrollment Turkey's education minister says 41% of secondary students now in vocational tracks, nearing OECD levels, as reforms boost enrollment and tech competitions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-education-minister-reports-41-vocational-student-enrollment --- Cite as: Turkey education reforms and AI platform growth – July 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-vocational-education-expansion