18.10.2025 10:40
The high school system in Turkey is undergoing a fundamental change. According to a report prepared by the Presidential Council for Education and Teaching Policies and the Ministry of National Education, the current 4-year high school education will be divided into two levels with a "2+2 model." Students will be able to receive a basic high school diploma after completing the first 2 years, and those who wish can continue with academic or vocational education in the last 2 years.
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A fundamental change is being made to the secondary education system in Turkey. The Presidential Council for Education and Teaching Policies discussed the restructuring of high school education in a meeting attended by officials from the Ministry of National Education (MEB). The evaluation report prepared by the council was presented to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
REVISION OF THE 4-YEAR MANDATORY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL
In the studies conducted by MEB over the last two years, it was determined that the existing 4-year mandatory high school system in Turkey increases the burden on students and limits creativity. The ministry, which also examined examples from around the world, noted that high school education is generally mandatory until the age of 16 in countries like the USA, the UK, China, and South Korea, while in Turkey, students only start high school at this age. It was emphasized that due to the weekly course load of up to 40 hours, students are becoming "disenchanted with school" and that the "exam-oriented system hinders individual development."
NEW MODEL: 2+2 PERIOD
According to the prepared report, high school education in Turkey will be transformed into a two-stage model.
In the new system:
- 9th and 10th grades will be mandatory,
- Students who complete these two years will receive a "basic high school diploma,"
- Students who wish can continue with academic or vocational education in the 11th and 12th grades.
Thus, the system will divide the 4-year high school structure into two separate stages, but it will not completely reduce education to 2 years. The aim is to support students' individual orientations, reduce the course load, and alleviate exam pressure.
MINISTRY WILL MONITOR STUDENTS
In the new model, students will be monitored within the system by the Ministry of National Education even if they do not transition to the second stage of high school education. During this process, students will be directed to vocational training, university preparation, or programs related to their own areas of interest.
MANDATORY EDUCATION PRACTICES AROUND THE WORLD
- USA: Mandatory education for ages 6–16 (varies by state).
- Germany: Mandatory for ages 6–15 or 16.
- Japan: Mandatory education for ages 6–15, 9 years of compulsory education.
- UK: Mandatory for ages 5–18, but transition to apprenticeship or work life is possible at age 16.
- Finland & Sweden: Mandatory for ages 6–16, early childhood education starts at age 3.
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