18/01/2022
Turkish public schools:
School education in Turkish public schools is free for all children, including immigrants.
Secondary education consists of different branches, including scientific, literary, vocational, and technical, each with a different educational focus.
Upon completion of secondary education, successful students with a high school diploma are eligible to take university entrance exams such as the YOS exam.
Public schools follow the Turkish national curriculum and the language of instruction is Turkish, however all students must learn a foreign language, usually English, German, Spanish or French.
Turkish private schools:
Turkish private schools generally follow the Turkish national curriculum. The language of instruction in these schools is Turkish, but some reputable private schools also offer bilingual education.
Non-Turkish students who want to enroll in a private school in Turkey must take a general test to determine the level of their qualifications, and private schools in Turkey also charge tuition fees.
International schools in Turkey:
Most of the international schools in Turkey are located in Ankara and Istanbul. These schools offer a variety of international curricula, including English, German and French. Some of these schools also offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
In addition, most international schools give students the opportunity to learn Turkish, and have field trips and cultural activities to help children get to know Turkish culture and society better.
Registration in international schools is limited, especially in Ankara, where there is a large diplomatic community due to the number of foreign embassies, so parents wishing to enroll their children in these schools should register early.
International Schools in Istanbul:
Language is one of the biggest challenges of life in Istanbul, and because public schools in Istanbul teach in Turkish, many immigrants eventually send their children to an international school.
There are about 28 international schools in Istanbul, and tuition fees in international schools in Turkey are very expensive.
