Activities related to adult education in Türkiye are offered by many institutions and organizations, primarily by the Ministry of National Education. These activities, which range from literacy courses to vocational training, entrepreneurship support to international mobility programs, aim to contribute to the personal and professional development of individuals. The following table summarizes the relevant institutions and their fields of activity. 

Table: Institutions and Organizations Providing Adult Education in Türkiye

Ministry of National Education

The units responsible for adult education within the Ministry are as follows:

Directorate General of Lifelong Learning

Public education centers (PECs), Advanced technical school for girls and open education schools operate under the Directorate General of Lifelong Learning. Within these institutions; courses and non-course activities; document, equivalence and recognition of prior learning; vocational training activities research, development and archiving procedures, national and international promotion activities, design, production and marketing activities in enterprises; vocational and technical training activities for the development of a qualified workforce; activities involving the organization, participation, representation, and publication related to all kinds of competitions, fairs, exhibitions, symposiums, panels, projects, cooperation certificates, and artistic, social, cultural, and similar events; Open education schools services, and distance learning activities are carried out. Lifelong Learning Institutions affiliated with the Directorate General of Lifelong Learning are presented in Table below. 

Table: Lifelong Learning Institutions Affiliated with Directorate General of Lifelong Learning

Source: MoNE 2025 Budget Report

Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education

The Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education (DGVET) is responsible for preparing vocational and technical education and training programs, developing policies and strategies to strengthen the education-employment relationship and coordinating activities. Vocational and technical secondary schools and vocational training centers organize certificate/diploma programs for adults in the fields and branches specified in the Vocational Education Law No. 3308 outside the scope of the secondary education program. Vocational courses, development and adaptation courses and special education courses can be opened within the scope of Articles 37, 38 and 39 of Law No. 3308 within vocational and technical education schools and institutions.

Directorate General of Private Education Institutions

Private education institutions are established by real and legal persons (companies, foundations, associations) in accordance with the Law No. 5580 on Private Education Institutions and operate under the MoNE. These include private schools, special education and rehabilitation centers and various private courses that provide non-formal education. Private schools use the same curriculum as public schools. In addition, private schools can implement the curricula they develop by having them approved by the Board of Education.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security

The main duties and responsibilities of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS) are set out in Presidential Decree No. 1. Accordingly, MoLSS is responsible for regulating and supervising working life, employee-employer relations and the social security system. In this context, the MoLSS is also responsible for researching and assisting in the implementation of measures to meet the human resources needs of the economy, as well as taking measures to ensure the vocational training of employees. The MoLSS fulfills these duties through its affiliated units and relevant institutions.

Directorate General of Turkish Employment Agency

As stated in the Presidential Decree No. 4, the Turkish Employment Agency, a related institution of the MoLSS, is responsible for supporting activities aimed at protecting, developing and expanding employment and preventing unemployment; to carry out unemployment insurance services, to match labor supply and demand in line with the needs of the market by creating an effective labor market information system; to facilitate employment through active labor market programs; to provide temporary income supports to those who lose their jobs through passive labor market programs, and to implement regulations related to working life.

Within the scope of vocational guidance and career counseling services; secondary and higher education students are supported in career planning and choosing the most suitable profession based on their personal characteristics; job seekers registered with ISKUR are supported in finding employment, overcoming their vocational adaptation problems, improving their professional skills, changing their profession/job, and are directed to active and passive labor force programs carried out by ISKUR; employers are informed within the framework of the legislation they are bound to, supported to increase company productivity and employment, and their demands such as the supply of qualified labor are met. Within the scope of active labor force services, ISKUR organizes vocational training courses, on-the-job training programs, community benefit programs, labor force adaptation program, ISKUR youth program, qualified labor force training program as well as other courses, programs, projects and special practices. Within the scope of passive labor market services, unemployment allowance, short time working allowance, wage guarantee fund payment, part-time work allowance, cash wage support and job loss compensation are provided to support the unemployed, employees and employers.

Vocational Qualifications Authority

As the relevant institution of the MoLSS, the VQA is responsible for establishing and operating a national qualifications system that is compatible with the European Union and internationally quality assured. VQA coordinates the preparation of national occupational standards and national qualifications, taking into account the needs of the labor market and educational institutions, and the conduct of assessment and certification activities based on national qualifications through authorized examination and certification bodies. The main objectives of VQA are to establish and operate the national qualifications system, to lead the formation of qualified human resources by ensuring the harmonization of education with employment. Ensuring the establishment of quality assurance culture and awareness in the education and business world, promoting lifelong learning and facilitating the mobility of the labor force are among the priorities of the Agency

Directorate for European Union Education and Youth Programs (Turkish National Agency)

Another institution that supports projects on Adult Education is the Directorate for European Union Education and Youth Programs (Turkish National Agency), a related institution of the Directorate for European Union Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Türkiye became a full member of the EU Education and Youth Programmes on 1 April 2004, and the Turkish National Agency was assigned as the institution responsible for the implementation of these programs in Türkiye. The mission of the Agency is to carry out programs that provide opportunities for education, learning, volunteering and cooperation in the fields of education, youth and sports in collaboration with other countries and international organizations, especially those benefiting from the European Union Education and Youth Programs.

Other Ministries, Public Institutions and Organizations

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization

The responsibilities of KOSGEB related to adult education are as follows:

1. Establishing Applied Technical Training Centers for organizing non-formal training programs in KOSGEB service centers, determining the training needs of enterprises and providing the necessary training,
2. To take necessary measures for the development and dissemination of entrepreneurship culture and environment, to support initiatives and entrepreneurs within this context.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry organizes activities in the field with the Directorate of International Agricultural Training Center (UTEM). It continues its activities through Handicraft Training Centers and village courses (UTEM, 2018).

Ministry of Family and Social Services

The mission of the Ministry is “to develop and implement holistic and fair social service models for the protection, strengthening and development of the individual, the family and our societal values.” The Ministry’s tasks for adult education are as follows:

1. Taking measures to ensure vocational rehabilitation of individuals with special needs.
2. Strengthening the family through education, counseling and social assistance, with the primary aim of raising and supporting the child within the family.
3. To protect the integrity of the family, to provide all kinds of financial, emotional and social support to the members and children of broken families in need of protection, assistance and care; to make necessary plannings for this purpose, to carry out training activities.

Local Governments

The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) continues its activities to improve the professional skills of employees working in local government units through the Union of Municipalities Academy. In addition, local education units established within municipalities organize courses in cooperation with national education directorates.

Ministry of Youth and Sports

Under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a wide range of activities are carried out under the heading of educational, social, cultural, and sports training, including various courses, workshops, thematic camps, competitions, traditional arts and hobby classes, excursions, seminars, conferences, concerts, guidance and counseling services, sports activities, and similar events. All procedures and principles regarding the educational, social, cultural and sports activities organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports through its central and provincial organizations are regulated by the Presidential Decree No. 4371.

Vocational Organizations

TOBB, TESK and other vocational organizations are responsible for organizing vocational training activities for their members. They finance the activities with funds created from their own resources or training budgets.