Education in Türkiye
Education in Turkey is made up of two main aspects: formal and informal education. Formal education covers pre-school, primary, secondary and higher education institutions, while informal education covers all education activities organized in addition to formal education activities.
Education institutions are for everyone regardless of their language, race or re- ligion. No individual, family, group or class is given any privilege in education.
You have to be entitled to legally stay in Turkey to benefit from the right of education in Turkey.
Fundamental Principles of Turkish Education System
No person in Turkey shall be deprived of the right to education guaranteed by the Constitution. In addition, compulsory education is free of charge in state schools. It is a crime to restrain a person’s right to education. Fundamental principles of Turkish education system:
‣ Universality and equality,
‣ Fulfillment of social and individual needs, ‣ The right to choose,
‣ The right to education,
‣ A lifelong educational planning,
‣ Scientific approach.
Kindergartens and Day Care Centers
Education in Turkey starts with the early childhood education under the re- sponsibility of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services and the Min- istry of National Education. This type of education is available in kindergartens and day care centers for children aged 0 to 36 months. Kindergartens and day care centers are paid and registration is optional.
Preschool Education
Preschool education is offered by independent nursery schools for children aged 36 to 66 months and nursery classes as part of formal and informal ed- ucation institutions for children aged 48 to 66 months.
While education for children aged 48 to 66 months is free in state schools, education for children aged 36 to 66 months is paid out of state schools.
Vocatinal Training Centers
Vocational Training Centers that offer 4-year education in total are included in formal education. Students attend the school for a day in a week and practice for the remaining 5 days in a workplace. Age re- strictions do not apply to registrations. Registration is available year- round. They are paid at least 30 percent of the minimum wage during the period of education.
You can register to a Vocational Training Center by registering to an A1 grade Turkish Language Course in a Public Education Center if you hold a secondary school degree or above, or by completing A1 grade Turkish Language Course and registering to an A2 grade Turk- ish Language Course in a Public Education Center if you are not able to document your educational background. If you already have a job, you can continue working and attend Apprenticeship Training at the same time.
School Registration
In order to register your child to any school, you need to have a document with your children’s identity and foreigner identity number.
If you hold a degree received from a country other than Turkey, you can apply to the Equivalence Commission of the Directorate of National Education in your province to receive a certificate of equivalence and register to a relevant school with that certificate. If you are not able to prove your educational background with a certificate, you have to apply to the Equivalence Commission of the Ministry of National Education to take a placement test. The result of that test will be used for your placement.
Higher Education/University
Higher education institutions are universities, faculties, graduate schools, vocational schools of higher education, conservatories, and research and application centers. It is necessary to be a se- condary education graduate and successful at the university placement test to enroll in a highereducation institution. Students who are entitled to file a preference form for a university after the placement test, are admitted to one of the universities they applied depending on their order of success. Since there is a difference between the number of students who are entitled to submit preferences following the university placement test and the student quotas of universities, make sure that you identify your preferences realistically. For further information, see the university preference guide annually published by ÖSYM or visit www.osym.gov.tr.
Higher education services are provided in state and private universities. While state universities are free of charge, private universities determine their respective amounts of tuition fee. Howe- ver, state universities may claim tuition fees from foreign students. You can apply for “Türkiye Bursları” for higher education programs in Turkey. You can visit www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for further information about “Türkiye Bursları”.
TÜRKİYE BURSLARI
“Türkiye Bursları” are publicly-financed higher education scholarships granted to in- ternational students by the Republic of Turkey. Foreign students who come to Turkey as part of the projects implemented with the European Union, mutual agreements of the Higher Education Authority or by the scholarships offered by universities are not covered by “Türkiye Bursları”. service organizations providing.
If you did not complete your secondary education in Turkey, you must take the tests or- ganized by universities for foreign students instead of the central university placement test. In addition, you cannot submit your university preference to the central system, and you must apply to the universities in person. Universities will ask you to document your educational background and other details during application. You can visit www. yok.gov.tr for further information about such documents and procedures.
If you are under temporary protection in Turkey, you can apply for training programs in Turkish or foreign languages in various universities. You need to take a proficiency test if you apply for such programs for undergraduate transfer and you do not have an equivalence document.
Universities of Distance Education
If you want to receive an associate or undergraduate degree but you are not able to obtain admission to formal education programs of universities for any reason, you can register for Distance Education programs for certain departments of cer- tain universities within the scope of equal opportunity principle in education. Once you have completed a Distance Education program, you will have a diploma equivalent to those awarded by formal education programs.
The most common practice among Distance Education pro- grams is executed by Anadolu University. For further infor- mation about the programs covered by the Distance Education systems and the admission conditions of such programs, visit www.aof.edu.tr.
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