The new academic year is starting! The theme of the first lesson will be this.

After the summer vacation, the new academic year will start in approximately 74,000 schools and 750,000 classrooms for about 20 million students and 1.2 million teachers.

An orientation training was organized on September 2-3 for preschool and first-grade elementary school students. Guidance activities for school adaptation will also be carried out for students starting middle school this week. The first lesson of the new academic year in all classes of primary and secondary education levels will start with an opening lesson prepared with the theme of "Independence Spirit and Love for the Country from Çanakkale to Gaza".

NEW CURRICULUM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED GRADUALLY

A series of innovations will be implemented in the education process this year. In this context, the new curriculum within the scope of the Turkey Century Education Model will be implemented for the first time in preschool, 1st, 5th, and 9th grades. The course contents have been simplified by 35% with the new curriculum. Skill-based textbooks prepared by the ministry will be used in the first grades starting with the new curriculum this year.

The new books prepared in line with the new curriculum include activities, animations, simulations, digital history, augmented reality, and applications supported by artificial intelligence within QR codes, aiming for students to learn without the need for additional resources. In addition, free textbooks have been provided to students as part of the preparations for the 2024-2025 academic year. Training sessions have been provided to teachers regarding the Turkey Century Education Model.

VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION WILL BE STRENGTHENED

Vocational and technical education will be one of the main agenda items in the 2024-2025 academic year. A series of new practices will be implemented to strengthen vocational and technical education and provide qualified workforce to the production sector within the Vocational and Technical Education Policy Document, which has the main philosophy of "Everyone should have a profession". After the establishment of craft workshops in the 7th and 8th grades of middle schools, vocational middle schools will be opened within vocational and technical Anatolian high schools starting from this year.

With the aim of directing students to sports at an early age and discovering talented students, the country's first "sports middle schools" will start accepting students within 9 sports high schools determined in 9 provinces as of the new academic year.

The Ministry of National Education has automatically determined the 1st-grade classes of primary schools, class teachers, and the 5th-grade classes of middle schools through the e-School system. The "Velivizyon" platform has been launched by the ministry this year to strengthen school-family cooperation.

SCOPE OF COMMON EXAMS EXPANDED

The "common exam nationwide" practice, which was initiated last year, will be implemented in a more comprehensive manner this year. The common exams, which were held in Turkish language and literature and mathematics courses for the 6th and 9th grades last year, will also be implemented for the 7th and 10th grades this year.

The class mother application will not be allowed this year. In addition, parents will not be able to come to school without an appointment. The ban on the use of mobile phones in classrooms will continue.

The Ministry of Education will certify the efforts to increase the energy efficiency of schools, use resources efficiently, and develop environmentally friendly schools with the "green flag" starting from the new academic year. Students starting primary and middle school this year will plant trees in designated areas and take care of the tree they planted during their education. Training on water conservation, waste management, and environmental awareness will be provided in schools, and efforts will be made to make school gardens more environmentally friendly.

FIRST MID-TERM BREAK: NOVEMBER 11-15

The first mid-term break will be held on November 11-15, 2024. The first semester of the new academic year will end on Friday, January 17, 2025. The mid-year break will start on Monday, January 20, 2025, and end on Friday, January 31, 2025. The second semester will start on Monday, February 3, 2025, and end on Friday, June 20, 2025. The second mid-term break will start on Monday, March 31, 2025, and end on Friday, April 4, 2025.