26.06.2025 12:30
In the new term, the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, stated that they have eliminated the situation where schools direct parents to specific stores. He said, "From now on, each school will define its own uniform. There is no situation where we direct students to any particular store. Our students can buy and use similar clothing either from their own province or from another province."
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Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin announced a new application that closely concerns parents regarding school uniforms. Accordingly, the period of directing parents to certain stores by schools has come to an end.
In the new period, each school will define its own uniform model; however, there will be no guidance on where parents can purchase these uniforms. In statements to TGRT News regarding the issue, Minister Tekin said, "From now on, each school will define its own uniform. There is no situation of directing to any store. Our students can buy and use similar uniforms either in their own province or from another province," he stated.
Highlights from Minister Tekin's statements;
We started implementing the Turkey Century Education Model in the first grade of each level as of the 2024-2025 academic year. Starting from next year, it will continue with the 2nd grades as well. That is, preschool, primary school 1-2, middle school 5-6, high school 9-10 will continue with the Turkey Century Education Model. The following year, it will reach the 3rd grades.
"WE SAID THIS PROGRAM WILL BE DYNAMIC"
What were we uncomfortable with regarding the programs, why did we change? When I started my position as undersecretary in 2013, I attended many international meetings. There were still warnings in reports about the discomfort with the Turkish education system regarding children's acquisition of knowledge. They said, 'You need to transform this.' We changed that. We are in such a rapid change and transformation that everything is changing. Even geographical borders... We said we would create a skill-oriented program compatible with the educational philosophy suggested by the age. We said this program would be dynamic. It will be renewed at certain intervals. We will conduct an evaluation every summer, and if there is something that needs to be revised... It will be continuously updated. We need to accept this. This is one of our main criteria.
"TEACHERS ALSO BELIEVED IN THIS WORK"
We said, 'We will carry out the work with a participatory logic.' We consult with teachers in meetings and with people working in the sector regarding every action we take. As a result, we make our arrangements for what we will do. We said we would receive feedback regarding the implementation of the Education Model. Relevant general directorates will carry out activities related to the year it is implemented. Secondly, we have our Measurement, Evaluation, and Exam Services regarding the measurement and evaluation of these programs. They will conduct monitoring and evaluation. Thirdly, the Inspection Board of our ministry will conduct evaluations. Our Internal Audit Presidency will carry out monitoring and evaluation activities. Our Curriculum and Instruction Board... Plus, our provincial and district national education directorates have carried out their activities. We also created links where our teacher friends could provide feedback, and we received their responses. We will review this curriculum again based on the Monitoring and Evaluation reports. Those who object to the program are currently thanking us. We make our decisions with our educators.
I believe teachers also believed in this work. If they do not move with us, if we cannot manage to work together with them, nothing we try to do will have any value.
ALLEGATION OF "LEAKED QUESTIONS IN LGS"
"Here, the real and the imaginary are mixed up. In 2013, within the scope of TEOG, we conducted a trial exam at the end of October. We selected pilot provinces. One of them took our trial booklet, and when we conducted the normal exam, on the morning of the exam, they announced, 'I received the question booklet.' Until we explained this, the situation got chaotic.
I am very sorry, but there are people here who exploit the feelings of parents and students, who are predatory. There are those who exploit the efforts of our teacher friends and school administrators, spreading false information.
The issue you mentioned is true. Our question booklet for the LGS exam was announced earlier than the time we desired. However, after the exam started and one hour after the exam was completed, it was shared on social media at 11:57. This was published at a time more accurate than the time we wanted. However, there was no situation that would risk the security of the exam. Nevertheless, we filed a criminal complaint against the person who made that publication. After the verbal part of the exam was completed, after the booklets were completed... Our friends in the Inspection Board are investigating:
FREEDOM OF DRESS ISSUE
From now on, each school will define its own uniform. There is no situation of directing to any brand or any store while doing this. We only requested the definition of the clothes that children will wear from the schools. Our students can buy and use similar uniforms either in their own province or from another province. We do not want the uniforms to be changed for 4 years for each level. To avoid any additional burden. Some have caricatured this again. They said, 'The black apron has returned.' Of course, there is no such thing. The critical point is this; We have taken measures to eliminate any concerns about directing to any emblem printed in any way or any place.
"THE PERCEPTION THAT LANGUAGE IS LEARNED IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS IS BEING DESTROYED"
We have put the issue of language teaching in Turkey on the table. 'Are we providing less foreign language education to our children in terms of time compared to children in another country?' We spend nearly twice as much time as the OECD average. So where is the problem? I also look at the materials; they are similar to international materials. Our problem is whether we are providing foreign language education to children at the right age and with the right intensity? In 2016-2017, we started a pilot application. We initiated an intensive foreign language program in the 1st grade of middle school. We started this in 1-2 pilot schools in each province. Then we left, and after returning, I looked at the fate of this pilot application. I saw that the pilot schools produced very successful results. It has now spread to nearly 300 schools. It is heading in a good direction.
Again, during the same period, we asked, "Can we apply a sufficient measurement and evaluation system regarding whether our children are learning the language?" We developed a mechanism that measures our children's language learning through 4 skills and changed the exam logic. Children are now being tested on language-related skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We abandoned the logic of learning tests and grammar.
After starting my duty as a minister in 2023, you may have heard a lot, 'I knew the question but I didn't fully understand it.' We are experiencing problems with our children's native language skills. If children speak their mother tongue with 300-500 words, can you expect them to speak a foreign language with 1000-2000 words? We have centered the development of native language skills for children to learn a foreign language.
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