Minister Tekin: Our education budget has been set at 2 trillion 186 billion 575 million 227 thousand lira.

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin stated, "Our education budget, together with the resources allocated to YÖK, ÖSYM, the Higher Education Quality Board, universities, and other ministries, has been determined as 2 trillion 186 billion 575 million 227 thousand lira."

Minister Yusuf Tekin made a presentation to the commission members about the practices and new goals of the Ministry and its affiliated institutions at the TBMM Planning and Budget Commission, chaired by AK Party Samsun Deputy Mehmet Muş.

Expressing that as the Ministry of National Education, they are working with high motivation to take responsibility and contribute to achieving Turkey's vision goals for the Century of Turkey, Tekin said, "The realization of this will undoubtedly be possible with the involvement of all our institutions and citizens as a country in the process. Our priority is to receive contributions from the entire society to the education mobilization we have initiated. Within the framework of this vision, we invite our parents, citizens, philanthropists, municipalities, and other stakeholders, especially our politicians, who want to shoulder the responsibilities we have undertaken, to be a part of this story that will beautify the future of our children."

"OUR EDUCATION BUDGET HAS BEEN DETERMINED AS 2 TRILLION 186 BILLION 575 MILLION 227 THOUSAND LIRA"

Reminding that the Ministry is the fourth institution that received the largest share from the central government budget in 2002 and has received the largest share since 2003, Tekin stated, "Our education budget, together with the resources allocated to YÖK, ÖSYM, the Higher Education Quality Board, universities, and other ministries, has been determined as 2 trillion 186 billion 575 million 227 thousand lira. This figure constitutes 14.84% of the 2025 central government budget."

NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS INCREASED

Noting that in the formal education system, education was provided in 367,145 classrooms in the 2002-2003 academic year, Tekin reported that this number has increased to 734,913 classrooms in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Addressing the number of teachers working in official schools, Minister Tekin stated that 515,253 teachers were employed in the 2002-2023 academic year, while currently, this number has reached 1 million 23 thousand 553. He also emphasized that 80% of the teachers currently in service were appointed during the AK Party governments.

Tekin pointed out that thanks to the investments made, there has been an improvement in the number of students per classroom, stating, "In the 2002-2003 academic year, the number of students per classroom was 36 in primary education and 30 in secondary education, while in the 2024-2025 academic year, it has decreased to 23 in primary education and 22 in secondary education. Similarly, the number of students per teacher was 28 in primary education and 18 in secondary education in the 2002-2003 academic year, while in the 2024-2025 academic year, it has become 18 in primary school, 14 in middle school, and 12 in secondary education."

SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND FREE LUNCH

Stating that social assistance services are provided in a determined, comprehensive, and mutually supportive manner to strengthen equality of opportunity in education, Tekin said, "In the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 1 million 146 thousand 213 students were provided transportation services and 1 million 29 thousand 250 students received free lunch services. In this context, a total of 24 billion 942 million 612 thousand 302 lira has been spent on transportation services and free lunch services."

Minister Tekin stated that since the 2003-2004 academic year, textbooks have been distributed to students free of charge to strengthen equality of opportunity in education, emphasizing that a total of 4 billion 430 million textbooks have been delivered to students free of charge to date.

ENROLLMENT RATES

Sharing the latest data on enrollment rates, Tekin continued his remarks as follows: The enrollment rate for preschool education in the 5-year age group was 11.7% in the 2002-2003 academic year, while it has risen to 84.26% in the 2023-2024 academic year. The enrollment rate in primary education was 90.98% in the 2002-2003 academic year, while it has increased to 95.65% in the 2023-2024 academic year. The enrollment rate in secondary education was 50.57% in the 2002-2003 academic year, while it has risen to 87.97% in the 2023-2024 academic year. To facilitate international comparisons, when looking at enrollment rates by age groups, independent of the education level, it is seen that in the 2023-2024 academic year, the enrollment rate for the 5-year age group is 86.24%, for the 6-9 age group is 98.61%, for the 10-13 age group is 98.32%, and for the 14-17 age group is 91.25%."

"THE ENROLLMENT RATE FOR AGES 6-14 IN TURKEY IS 98.8%, ABOVE THE OECD AVERAGE"

Tekin noted that the reflections of the studies conducted by the Ministry in international reports are also pleasing for Turkey, stating, "In the 'Education at a Glance' report published by OECD in 2024, the number of students per teacher in primary education is 14, and in middle and secondary education, it is 13. According to this data, it is seen that we have reached the OECD average at the secondary education level. The remarkable increase in Turkey's enrollment rate is also emphasized in the same report. The enrollment rate for ages 6-14 in Turkey is 98.8%, which is above the OECD average (98.4%). These indicators are evidence that the effects of investments made in education in our country are beginning to be seen," he said.

Minister Tekin also provided information about the Turkey Century Education Model, which will be implemented in the 2024-2025 academic year, stating, "This model aims to create a national education program that is 'carefully and meticulously designed,' as expressed by Atatürk at the Education Congress held in 1921, and is intended to create a culture that is 'appropriate to our national character and history' that we need for the development of our national genius."

Stating that a needs analysis has been initiated within the framework of the Turkey Century Education Model, Tekin noted that existing programs are being evaluated through commissions established for this analysis; a comprehensive data collection study has been conducted regarding the difficulties faced by teachers in the process, deficiencies in existing curricula, and needs. He also mentioned that student opinions from 81 provinces have been collected and that a survey has been conducted to identify students' expectations and needs.

Tekin stated that the curriculum implemented defines a student profile that prioritizes becoming a competent and virtuous person, not just focusing on academic success, saying, "In the curriculum prepared with the understanding that a competent and virtuous student can only be raised through multifaceted development, it is aimed for students to develop as healthier, balanced individuals for both themselves and society, and to gain a broad range of knowledge and thinking."

7.4 MILLION STUDENTS STUDYING IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Tekin stated that 7.4 million students are studying in 208 higher education institutions and shared the following information:

"The total number of teaching staff, which was 20,333 in 1984, has risen to 184,167 in 2024. A similar situation exists in the number of faculty members. The number of faculty members, which was 6,826 in 1984, has increased to 106,495 in 2024. The share of faculty members among the total teaching staff was 33.57% in 1984, while it has risen to 57.83% in 2024. 46.64% (85,897) of the total teaching staff are women, while 53.36% (98,270) are men. In 2003, the number of female teaching staff was 37% of the total teaching staff, while today this rate has increased to 46%."

Stating that the number of international students studying in Turkey was 43,251 in 2013, Tekin reported that this number has reached 354,000 as of September 2024.

BUDGET DETAILS

Minister Tekin stated that 1 trillion 30 billion 744 million 599 thousand TL of the budget is allocated for personnel expenses, 131 billion 441 million 299 thousand TL for state premium expenses to the social security institution, 116 billion 553 million 46 thousand TL for current expenditures for the purchase of goods and services, 31 billion 275 million 568 thousand TL for state boarding students, scholarships, and other current transfers, 141 billion 254 million 495 thousand TL for capital expenditures, and 446 million 533 thousand TL for capital transfers, totaling 1 trillion 451 billion 715 million 540 thousand lira allocated for activities to be carried out in the field of education in 2025.

Tekin continued his remarks as follows: "Within the framework of the 1 trillion 451 billion 715 million 540 thousand TL allocated for the Ministry of National Education budget in 2025; 84 billion 557 million 289 thousand lira for the participation of disabled individuals in social life and special education programs, 35 billion 737 million 840 thousand lira for lifelong learning programs, 759 million 742 thousand lira for measurement, selection, and placement programs, 426 billion 177 million 76 thousand TL for secondary education programs, 758 billion 815 million 499 thousand lira for primary education programs, 13 billion 363 million 432 thousand lira for international education collaborations and overseas education programs, and 132 billion 304 million 662 thousand lira for management and support programs have been allocated. Additionally, 488 billion 485 million 230 thousand lira is allocated for the budgets of the Higher Education Council, the Higher Education Quality Council, and universities, 5 billion 822 million 457 thousand lira for the budget of the Measurement, Selection, and Placement Center Presidency, 181 billion 667 million lira for the budget of the General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories, 27 billion 546 million 348 thousand lira for the free textbook expenses of primary school students, lunch expenses within the scope of the transportation application for primary/secondary education, and transportation expenses for students in need of special education will be allocated from the Social Assistance and Solidarity Encouragement Fund, 1 billion 731 million 652 thousand lira for coal purchases to be used in schools allocated in the budget of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, and 29 billion 607 million lira for the state contribution to candidates and apprentices allocated in the budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, bringing our total education budget (including ÖSYM) to 2 trillion 186 billion 575 million 227 thousand lira."