Structure of the Chapter

This chapter provides a thematic and chronological overview of education reforms and policy developments at the national level between 2022 and 2025. These reforms and policies are presented below based on educational levels and thematic areas:

• Early childhood education and care
• General school education
• Vocational education and training
• Higher education
• Adult education and training.

Reforms in each thematic area are organized chronologically. The most recent reforms are described first. The content, purpose and implementation status of the reforms are indicated, based on official documents and practices reflecting national priorities for the education system.

General Education Strategy and Key Objectives

The objectives of education in the Twelfth Development Plan (2024-2028) and the Presidential Annual Program for 2025 are as follows: 

The main objective is to ensure that all individuals have equal access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities on the basis of inclusiveness, to develop their academic, social and professional skills in line with international standards, to ensure that they have competencies in analytical thinking, financial literacy, collaborative work and leadership, and to raise them as individuals who have internalized national, spiritual, moral, humanitarian and social values and who are responsible towards the family and society to which they belong.

It is aimed to discover the talents and capacities of individuals at an early age and direct them to fields where they can develop appropriate abilities in the fields of science, technology and professional careers, and to ensure that they take part in the social division of labor as productive and social citizens who have skills in certain fields at a young age by gaining cultural, artistic, sports and language competencies by taking into account their personal interests. In this context, the policies and measures regarding education in the Presidential Annual Program for 2025 were developed by taking into account the Twelfth Development Plan (2024-2028).

In addition to these high-level policy documents, the Strategic Plan 2024-2028 prepared by the Ministry of National Education is one of the high-level policy documents that sets out the main goals, objectives and priorities of the Ministry. Published in January 2024, the Strategic Plan focuses on strengthening access and equality of opportunity in education, providing multidimensional support for the professional and personal development of our teachers, developing skill and process-oriented measurement and evaluation mechanisms, continuously updating curricula to meet the needs of the age and to include our traditional culture, ensuring international and foreign education cooperation, strengthening vocational education, and protecting national and spiritual values in order for our country to achieve the goals of the Centruy of Türkiye. According to the Strategic Plan, the mission of the Turkish National Education System is defined as “to raise healthy generations who are committed to national, spiritual and cultural values through a new education system that supports the mental, physical, social and Turkish language development of individuals by taking into account all differences, meets the workforce needed by our country, and measures skills within the framework of programs at international standards with our qualified education staff”. The vision is defined as “Raising generations that will build the Century of Türkiye from independence to future”.

The Medium Term Program for 2025-2027 targets talent discovery at an early age, quality pre-primary education, public-private sector cooperation in vocational education and a labor market compatible with digital transformation. Active labor policies that increase employment for youth, women, and individuals with special needs, grant support for entrepreneurs, and vocational skills development programs are planned. In addition, higher education quotas will be aligned with labor force needs, qualified labor force will be trained in strategic areas and university-private sector cooperation will be strengthened. R&D support will be increased, vocational training curricula will be updated and participation in lifelong learning will be encouraged. Economic growth will be supported through disaster preparedness and programs for foreign entrepreneurs.

The Vocational and Technical Education Policy Document aims to improve the quality of vocational education and to strengthen education processes through sectoral cooperation. By increasing cooperation with the private sector, curricula will be updated, internship and on-the-job training programs will be expanded, and the private sector involvement in the vocational education process will be increased by ensuring the participation of students in employment after graduation. In addition, a graduate tracking system will be established, labor market performances will be analyzed and shared with stakeholders. Engagement in lifelong learning activities will be enhanced, and vocational training activities will be developed for social assistance beneficiaries to participate in employment. A qualified workforce and foreign investor attraction center will be established to bring vocational education to an international dimension. The document basically aims to contribute to national development by increasing access to vocational education.