1 The Educational System of Turkey NAFSA Region I Conference October 18-21, 2006 Boise, ID LesLee Stedman Northwest Regional Director AACRAO International Education Services

2 Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti) Location: Southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria Background: Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter, the country instituted secular laws to replace traditional religious fiats and is now a parliamentary democracy. In 1945 Turkey joined the UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots and prevent a Greek takeover of the island; the northern 37 percent of the island remains under Turkish Cypriot control. However, relations between Turkey and Greece have improved greatly over the past few years Population: 68,893,918 (July 2004 est.) Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews) Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek Education Primary Education: Eight years; ages Compulsory for all male and female citizens. Secondary Education: Consists of general and vocational-technical high schools that offer at least three years of education. Higher Education: Includes all educational institutions where an educational program of at least two years beyond secondary education is implemented. Admission to higher education is centralized and based on a nation-wide single- stage examination administered by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) every year. Institutions of higher education offer programs of study at associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree levels. The system consists of state and private (foundation) universities and non-university institutions of higher education (police and military academies and colleges). Private universities come under the supervision of the Council of Higher Education and their programs must be regularly accredited. Primary and secondary education is free of charge in public schools. State higher education institutions charge a minimal tuition fee, while private higher education institutions charge tuition of varying rates.

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6 Turkey Resources Electronic –Governments on the World Wide Web: Turkey: –Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education: –Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK): –Turkish Embassy, Washington, DC: Print –Turkey, AACRAO World Education Series, –The Educational System of Turkey, ECE Presents, –Turkey: Update on Education , ECE Insights, –Turkey: A Comparative Study, NOOSR Country Education Profiles, 2nd ed., 1997.