The new academic year begins today for approximately 17 million students and 1.2 million teachers at all levels.
The curriculum of the "Turkey Century Education Model", which was gradually launched in the 2024-2025 academic year, will be implemented this year in kindergarten and application classes, primary school 1, 2 and 3, secondary school 5, 6 and 7, secondary school preparatory and 9, 10 and 11th grades.
"Integration trainings" were organized between 7-11 September in order to support the school adaptation process of pre-school, primary school 1st and secondary school 5th grade students and to ensure the active participation of families in the education process.
The theme of "Play at the Heart of Education" will be taken as basis in the 2026-2027 academic year in primary and secondary education institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MEB).
The Ministry will organize "Don't Shoot the Kites, Keep the Sky for the Children" activities in schools in the first week to raise awareness about what happened in Gaza.
The events will be held within the framework of 4 themes: "Children Should Play", "Children Should Grow Up in Safe", "Education is the Right of Every Child" and "No Child Should Be Left Behind".
In this context, children's fundamental rights to play, to grow up in safety, to receive education and without discrimination will be discussed through various studies. Various activities will be carried out such as "kite designs, paintings and exhibition works, messages for children in Gaza, activities on peace, security, solidarity and the right to education".
Parents will also be encouraged to participate in events to be held until September 18 in areas to be determined in provincial centers, in accordance with the safe participation of students, under the coordination of the governorships.
FREE TEXTBOOKS ARE READY
This year, 283 million 354 thousand 674 textbooks consisting of a total of 2 thousand 25 different courses, 10 for pre-school, 420 for primary education, 340 for secondary education, 210 for special education and 1045 for vocational education, were made ready for students.
In addition, in order to ensure unity of practice across the country, to provide effective resources to teachers and to strengthen the school-family-child interaction, the "First Steps to School with My Child Notebook" for children who will start pre-school education and first grade students, and "Hakan and Bilge's Journey to the Turkic World" and "Turkish World Cultural Atlas: Bilge and Hakan's Journey Beyond Time" materials for basic education and secondary education levels were prepared for the first time.
PARENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO VISIT WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT
The Ministry sent a circular to all provinces regarding the work and procedures to be carried out in education and training this year, and the national stance put forward by the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was included as one of the uncompromising priorities of the Ministry and one of the main goals of the education and training processes.
In this context, in accordance with the holistic spirit of the Turkey Century Education Model, students will be educated without any discrimination, on the basis of the constitutional understanding of citizenship and the principle of equality, with the awareness to protect national unity and solidarity, the homeland and the law of brotherhood. For this purpose, events will be organized in line with the application guides prepared by the Ministry in the first week of the 2026-2027 academic year and throughout the year.
According to the circular, provincial and district executive committees will meet at the beginning of the academic year to review their duties and responsibilities, possible risks to the school and its environment, and make plans.
Entrances and exits in school environments will be controlled, pedestrian and vehicle traffic will be separated, blind spots will be illuminated, and maintenance and repair works will be completed to ensure fast and safe evacuation in emergency situations.
Reports and complaints regarding issues that may threaten the safety of the school and students will be evaluated and precautions will be taken.
MOBILE PHONES WILL NOT BE USED IN SCHOOLS
All protective and preventive measures will be implemented in coordination with the relevant institutions in order to prevent negative behaviors from turning into acts and crimes, and the slightest administrative weakness or negligence in this regard will not be allowed.
Parent-parent meetings will be planned and carried out throughout the country only through the "School Appointment System". Parents will not be allowed to visit without an appointment and people who are not the student's parent or guardian will not be allowed to enter the school.
Focus will be placed on guidance for students to benefit from digital opportunities correctly, and their awareness of the factors that cause digital addiction will be increased.
The practice of students not having mobile phones in the classroom will continue and teachers will not use mobile phones in the classroom.
THEME WILL BE BASED ON "GAME AT THE HEART OF EDUCATION"
In the 2026-2027 academic year, the theme of "Play at the Heart of Education" will be taken as basis, in line with the holistic education approach of the Türkiye Century Education Model.
With the understanding that play is an integral part of the child's learning, development, socialization, production and self-expression processes, safe and inclusive play activities and traditional children's games, appropriate to age and developmental characteristics, will be included in the education processes.
Planning and implementation within this framework will be carried out in accordance with the principles and principles of the "Ministry of National Education Game Policy Document".
FIRST SEARCH BREAK IS ON 16-20 NOVEMBER
In the new academic year, the first semester break will start on Monday, November 16th and will end on Friday, November 20th.
The semester break will start on Monday, January 25, 2027 and will end on Friday, February 5. The first bell of the second term will ring on Monday, February 8.
The second semester break will start on Monday, March 8th and end on Friday, March 12th.
Teachers' end-of-year professional training will be held on 28-30 June.
The 2026-2027 academic year will be completed on Friday, June 25.
