Reciprocal Agreements
As a result of negotiations with different countries in the field of education, agreements, protocols, memorandums of understanding, school/university agreements, etc. are signed. In this context, 107 memorandums of understanding were signed in the field of higher education. Currently, there are 336,291 foreign students in Türkiye as of 2025. As of March 2025, 344 cultural cooperation agreements, educational cooperation agreements, protocols, memorandums of understanding, etc. have been signed with 127 countries. Of these agreements, a total of 321 agreements signed with 125 countries were published in the Official Gazette and entered into force. In 2024, 5 agreements were signed with 5 countries. As of March 2025, negotiations on 109 cooperation agreements, memorandums of understanding, cultural exchange programs and protocols are ongoing with 91 countries.
Cooperation and Participation in Worldwide Programs and Organizations
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
As one of the twenty founding members of the OECD, Türkiye actively participates and contributes to the OECD’s work on education. MoNE is represented on the Board of Directors of the Education Policy Committee (EDPC) and the Center for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), where important decisions on education are taken at the OECD. MoNE is also involved in the Program for the International Assessment of Student Achievement (PISA), the International Teaching and Learning Survey (TALIS), and the Indicators of Education Systems (INES).
Program for the International Assessment of Student Achievement (PISA)
Since 2003, Türkiye has been participating in the PISA exams, which are organized every three years by the OECD and aim to determine the level of 15-year-old students’ ability to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in reading, mathematics and science.
Teaching and Learning International Survey - TALIS
TALIS is conducted by the OECD. It is a survey study that aims to help learn about the education policies implemented by member countries, to provide cross-country analysis and to identify similar problems they face. It is implemented every 5 years. Türkiye participated in this project in 2008 and 2018. The TALIS 2024 study is implemented at the levels of early childhood education, basic education, secondary and high school education. Participation of the countries participating in the survey is compulsory at the secondary education level. Participation at other levels is left to countries’ preferences. Türkiye participates in the survey at all levels of education. The fieldwork for the TALIS 2024 cycle was completed in March 2023. The main study is planned to be conducted between 2025 and 2026.
Education Systems Indicators (INES) Program
Under the INES program, MoNE compiles education data in accordance with international standards and submits it to the OECD for inclusion in OECD, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and European Union Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) publications and databases.
International Organization for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA)
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which is conducted every four years by the International Organization for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to assess the knowledge and skills acquired by 4th and 8th grade students in mathematics and science, has been participated in all years except 2003. Finally, participation in the eTIMSS 2023 cycle was ensured.
Türkiye first participated in the Progress in International Reading Skills Study (PIRLS) conducted by the IEA in 5-year cycles, which aims to reveal the reading comprehension skills and reading habits of 4th grade primary school students according to different text types, in 2001, and Türkiye participated in the PIRLS 2021 cycle after 20 years.
Training Activities with UNESCO
MoNE actively participates in UNESCO education activities, of which Türkiye is a founding member. Türkiye regularly participates in the General Conference, the highest decision-making body of UNESCO, which is held every two years.
The Executive Board, the highest executive body of UNESCO, is composed of 58 members elected by the General Conference for four-year terms. Representing Group 1 in the Executive Board for the 2017-2021 term, Türkiye was re-elected for the 2021-2025 term.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF, a United Nations organization responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental assistance to children worldwide, and MoNE continue to cooperate in the field of education.
In line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF’s Türkiye program focuses on the needs of the most vulnerable children living in Türkiye in the areas of education, protection, health, social policy, adolescence and youth. Within the scope of the Türkiye-UNICEF Country Program 2021- 2025, work is carried out in line with four main components. These components are children, adolescents and youth, protective and resilient programs for disadvantaged groups, and investment and cooperation for children’s rights.
Council of Europe (CoE)
It was established in 1949 to strengthen human rights, the rule of law and pluralistic democracy in Europe. The organization, of which Türkiye is one of the founding members, currently has 46 members. The activities of the Council of Europe in the field of education are coordinated by MoNE. The organizations of the Council of Europe in the field of education are listed below.
The Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice (CDEDU)
The Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice (CDEDU) is the executive body of the Council of Europe in the field of education and Türkiye is represented on the committee by representatives of the Ministry of National Education and Higher Education. At CDEDU meetings, the progress of the activities in the Council of Europe’s education program is discussed and policies and activities are drafted.
Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN)
In line with the decision taken by the CoE at the Executive Committee on Policies and Practices in Education (CDPPE) meeting held in December 2017, the Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN) was established with one government representative from each member country to contribute to the harmonization process of the Reference Framework for Democratic Cultural Competencies (RFCDC) in member countries. The work of the EPAN network is monitored by MoNE. In Türkiye, the Reference Framework is being piloted in 110 schools in 10 provinces through the Strengthening Democracy Culture in Basic Education Institutions Project implemented between 2018-2022.
RFCDC and VET Working Group
RFCDC prepared by CoE is a working group established to contribute to the dissemination of RFCDC in vocational education and training. Türkiye is also represented in the group. Under the auspices of the working group, a document containing good practice examples will be prepared to contribute to the dissemination of RFCDC in vocational education and training.
RFCDC and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Working Group
The RFCDC, prepared by the CoE, includes a representative from Türkiye in the 12-member working group established to prepare a guidance document to be used in contributing to the achievement of UNESCO’s ESD goals. Its first meeting was held on November 2023.
Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education Platform (ETINED) Working Group
ETINED aims to contribute to the development of a culture of democracy and participation based on the principles of ethics, transparency and honesty in education, bringing together ministries of education, education boards, higher education institutions, international non-governmental organizations, educators and students from the CoE and member countries. The activities of the ETINED platform are followed by MoNE and CoHE.
Observatory for History Teaching in Europe (OHTE)
It was established in November 2020 with the extended partial agreement method to contribute to the provision of history teaching that will support the development of democratic culture. It consists of 18 member countries and 2 observer countries.
The objectives of the observatory are listed below;
- To promote a common European consciousness through dialogue and exchange of experiences between countries
- To support norms and practices that promote history education in accordance with the values of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Cultural Charter
- To publish periodic reports on textbooks and curricula
- To publish periodic reports on textbooks and curricula
- To create basic European Studies for educational purposes as well as national narratives
- To encourage discussion of publications and share successful history education practices
Within the scope of the work of the Observatory, a regular report on History Teaching in Europe was prepared. In addition, a thematic report on “Disasters and Epidemics in History Teaching” has been published and a thematic report on “Economic Crises in History Teaching” is in preparation.
Group of 20 (G20) Platform
The Republic of South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 for 2025, of which Türkiye, 19 countries, the European Union and the African Union are members. The priorities outlined in following figure are being discussed within the Education Working Group established under the auspices of the Term Presidency:
Figure: Priority Areas of the Education Working Group
In the Education Working Group meetings, country policies and practices were shared within the framework of the contributions received from MoNE and other relevant institutions, and examples of practices are included in the reports prepared under the auspices of the Working Group.
Training Activities Conducted with the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Training Institute
ECO was established with the Izmir Agreement signed on September 14, 1996 and is headquartered in Tehran, the capital of Iran. ECO has a total of 10 members and its founding members are Türkiye, Iran and Pakistan. Other members of the ECO are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an observer member.
There are three specialised agencies within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Detailed information about these agencies is presented below.
- The ECO Cultural Institute was established in 2000 and is located in Tehran (Iran).
- The ECO Science Foundation was established in 2011 and is based in Islamabad (Pakistan).
- The ECO Institute of Education was decided to be established in Ankara in 1998 and was actually established in 2012. However, the institutionalization process is still ongoing.
Training Activities Conducted with the Organization of Turkic States
The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Organization of Turkic States) was established by the Nakhchivan Agreement signed at the Turkic Summit in Nakhchivan in 2009 as an international organization to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic speaking countries. Its members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye. Observer members are the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Hungary and Turkmenistan. Within the scope of the activities of the Organization of Turkic States, activities such as student exchange program, teacher exchange program, preparation of a common Turkic history textbook, a common Turkic literature textbook and a common Turkic geography textbook are carried out.