Scandalous decision from the Ministry of National Education! Parents can now hold students back a grade if they wish

This practice will be applicable only once during a student's primary education. Primary school students who have not reached the proficiency level required by the school administration may be held back a grade upon a written request from their parents.

The "Regulation on Amendments to the Ministry of National Education Regulation on Preschool Education and Primary Education Institutions," prepared by the Ministry of National Education (MEB), has been published in the Official Gazette.

According to the regulation, fine arts music primary schools, fine arts music middle schools, sports middle schools, and vocational middle schools have been defined as "schools implementing different programs at the primary education level."

The regulation also includes provisions allowing preschool classes to be opened within middle schools.

In single-session education, the minimum time allocated for lunch and rest in schools has been reduced from 40 minutes to 30 minutes, providing flexibility to school administrations and parents in determining the lunch break duration.

A regulation was introduced requiring a representative from the Ministry of National Education's Geographic Information System unit to participate in the work of the student enrollment area determination commission. During school registration, parents may be asked to provide a water, electricity, or natural gas bill as "proof of residence."

TRANSFER PROCEDURES

Transfer periods for schools have been clarified, and the timing and conditions for transfers to vocational middle schools have been established. Transfers for students wishing to move to a vocational middle school will be conducted while exempting them from mandatory vocational courses throughout the academic year for 5th and 6th grades, and until the last working day of September for 7th grade. Transfers in other middle schools implementing different programs will be carried out in accordance with a guide to be prepared by the Ministry.

Facilitations have been introduced for the transfer of children whose families have members undergoing long-term treatment in hospitals.

Transfers of siblings who are forced to attend different schools due to the opening of a new school, changes in enrollment areas, or a change of address by the parent can now be made to the school of one of the siblings upon the parent's request.

A student subjected to negative behavior requiring a reprimand or more severe disciplinary action may be transferred to another school upon the written application of their parent and the favorable opinion of the guidance service.

Equivalency exams for students coming to Turkey from abroad will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of National Education Equivalency Regulation published in the Official Gazette on July 9, 2024.

In line with the curriculum updated under the Century of Turkey Education Model, instead of report cards at the end of each term, a "skills acquisition report" will be provided in preschool education, and a "development report" will be provided in primary schools.

GRADE REPETITION ALLOWED ONCE

To track student absenteeism more effectively, the deadline for parents to submit an excuse document or declaration to the school has been set at 3 days.

SMS has been added as a method to notify parents of students who cannot attend exams for any reason or fail to submit their projects on time.

PARENTS CAN REQUEST GRADE REPETITION

In primary schools, parents of students who have not reached the proficiency level required by the school administration will be notified annually in May via written notice, email, or SMS regarding grade repetition. Following this notification, grade repetition can be requested by the parent through a petition submitted to the school administration up to one week before the end of the academic year. Grade repetition will be applicable only once during the course of primary education.

The regulation also allows for grade repetition for students in preschool education and primary education institutions where inclusive education students are enrolled, as well as for students in special education classes, upon a petition submitted by the parent to the school administration up to one week before the end of the academic year.

News Source: AA