The Education System in Turkey

Turkish primary and secondary school education produces very poor average results relative to those in other OECD countries but in the best schools, standards are high. The contemporary Turkish education system was established in 1924 after Atatürk closed the religious schools, set up new secular schools, and made elementary school attendance compulsory. There are five stages of education: preschool, primary school, middle school, high school, and university.

High schools are divided into lycée (general) and vocational schools. The lycées offer three-year college preparatory programs while vocational high schools include technical training schools for men; domestic science schools for women; teacher-training schools; auxiliary health care, commercial, and agricultural schools; Muslim teacher-training schools; and other specialized institutions. The Muslim teacher-training schools, called imam hatip okullari, have increased in number since the late 1970s.

Higher education is available at several hundred institutions, including professional schools and academies, institutes, and conservatories, but primarily at the twenty-seven public universities. Degrees granted by Turkish Universities are recognized around the world. The higher education law prohibits all teachers and matriculated students from belonging to or working for a political party and requires curricular standardization at all universities.