New decision from the Ministry of National Education: Changes made to middle school report cards

The Ministry of National Education (MEB) has made changes to the design and content of student report cards, which previously only included course and behavior grades. Starting at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, the newly designed report cards will feature not only academic success but also social activities.

5 MAIN CATEGORIES WILL BE EVALUATED

Social activities carried out both inside and outside of school will be evaluated under 5 main categories: "scientific", "cultural", "artistic", "sporting" activities, and "community service".

Students' social activities will be recorded on their report cards at 4 main levels: "participation", "producing a product", "demonstrating performance", and "achieving a ranking". Thus, students' participation in social activities will be reflected on their report cards through a graded system.

Furthermore, social activities will be evaluated based on where they took place, categorized as "in-school", "inter-school", "district-wide", "province-wide", "regional", "national", and "international".

AIMING TO HIGHLIGHT 'SOCIAL SUCCESS'

The goal is to make students' social achievements visible alongside their academic success, allowing them to stand out not only with their course grades but also with their social activities.

Under the ministry's new practice, records of students' social activities kept in the e-School (e-Okul) system are intended to serve as a resource for guidance services when students are placed in a higher education institution.

In this context, school administration and teachers will be able to see whether a student entering the school is interested in sports or arts, and what their interests and skills are, by checking the system.

For example, a physical education teacher will be able to identify athletic students in advance, allowing these students to pursue in-depth studies during their school life.

The practice will also include a detailed breakdown within the e-School system of competitions, activities, and products designed by students throughout the academic year at the school, inter-school, district, provincial, regional, national, or international levels.

Thus, all social activities performed by students throughout their educational life will be trackable through official records in e-School.

THERE WILL BE 3 SEPARATE CATEGORIES

Three separate categories have been determined for recording students' social activities into the e-School system. Accordingly, data entry for students' social activity documents will be made as "school activities", "central activities", and "individual extracurricular activities".

School activities will consist of activities in student clubs formed under the guidance of at least one advisor teacher. These activities will cover social activities and community service projects planned in advance by student clubs.

Central activities will consist of activities organized by the MEB central and provincial organizations, or activities requested to be carried out based on a cooperation protocol signed with other institutions and organizations, or subject to permission.

Activities within this scope will be entered into the Social Activity Module in advance by the relevant unit of the MEB central or provincial organization. The relevant course teacher will enter the students' information into the module at the end of the activity.

Activities approved by the central or local administration outside of school, which are deemed appropriate by the MEB and carried out by students in institutions and organizations determined by the ministry, in line with their own interests, desires, and talents, and with the knowledge of their parents, will also be entered into the e-School module.

Individual extracurricular activities will consist of activities organized by institutions and organizations affiliated with the Ministries of National Education, Youth and Sports, Science, Industry and Technology, Family and Social Policies, and Culture and Tourism, as well as universities, municipalities, and other official institutions and organizations.

GUIDE PUBLISHED

The MEB has also published a guide to ensure the practice is implemented more effectively. The guide provides detailed information on social activity areas, categories, and types of social activities.

It also explains with examples how data entry for activities will be made into the e-School system.

The guide can be accessed from the website of the MEB Directorate General for Basic Education.