07.05.2025 08:41
The Ministry of National Education has brought up the issue of making regulations regarding the long-discussed 4-year compulsory high school education. It has been learned that work is being done on a flexible high school education with a lower course load, and there are three different options on the ministry's table: 3+1, 2+2, and age model.
The Ministry of National Education has taken the long-debated compulsory high school education onto its agenda. Developments occurring in the world and Turkey, the transformation of education technologies with artificial intelligence, especially the increasing enrollment rates at the high school level, the rise of educational opportunities outside of school, and the inability to establish a connection between education and employment have led to a renewed discussion on the duration of compulsory education.
WORKING ON A FLEXIBLE MODEL
According to a report in Sabah, it has been learned that work has begun to bring a more flexible model to the last two years of the 12-year compulsory education, namely the 3rd and 4th grades of high school, in the form of 4+4+4. With the changes to be made, the aim is to reduce the impact of centralized exams that shape and pressure education. It is expected that the Ministry will make some improvements and enrichment efforts in educational processes to support students' academic and personal development, based on the views and suggestions of educators in light of the discussions.
WHAT OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE?
Based on the suggestions and opinions provided by civil society organizations, associations, and experts in the field, three models are on the Ministry of National Education's table:
3+1 MODEL: The high school education being structured as "3+1," where the first 3 years are compulsory education, and the last 12th grade is structured as a preparation year for university entrance exams, reducing high school education to 3 years and providing students with a diploma at the end.
2+2 MODEL: In this model, students who complete the 10th grade, i.e., the first 2 years, will be given a high school diploma, and those who wish to progress academically will continue their high school education for another 2 years.
AGE MODEL: Structuring compulsory education in high school based on age is also among the proposals. Here, it is suggested that those who have completed the age of 16 be exempted from compulsory education. Another proposal is to completely remove high school education from being compulsory.
TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CABINET
The studies related to high school education will also be presented at the cabinet meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin stated the following in a TV program regarding the issue: "Especially with the widespread access to higher education, a large number of students are going to higher education after secondary education, and it is automatically perceived as if compulsory education has been extended to 16 years. This is positive on one hand, but on the other hand, particularly in terms of vocational and technical education, we have started to be criticized for not being able to find qualified personnel in industry, commerce, and the service sector. Therefore, we said that if there is such a demand from the public, this can be discussed. There are formulas that have emerged. As a Ministry, we are closely following all these discussions. If there are topics that can be filtered out and agreed upon, we will take them and consult with the political mechanisms and our esteemed President in the cabinet."