Letter from the Ministry of National Education to 81 provinces: Class durations to be shortened in some schools!

The Ministry of National Education (MEB) has issued a regulation to shorten class durations in some public schools for the 2026-2027 academic year. In a letter sent to the governorates of all 81 provinces under the signature of Minister Yusuf Tekin, it was stated that the 40-minute class hour in primary and secondary education institutions meeting specific conditions could be reduced to as little as 30 minutes.

The regulation will not be a general practice covering all schools; it will be applicable to schools in need, within the framework of planning to be carried out by the governorates. Accordingly, public schools that have moved to another school building due to demolition-reconstruction work, those providing education in a different building as part of reinforcement projects, or those forced to operate on a double-shift system due to student density will be covered.

DECISION TO BE MADE ACCORDING TO GOVERNORATE PLANNING

The Ministry's letter emphasized that the practice will be evaluated within the specified conditions, limited to the 2026-2027 academic year. By reducing the class hour to 30 minutes, the aim is to reduce the density regarding class start-end times and building usage, especially in schools operating on a double-shift system.

It is stated that in current regulations, the class hour in secondary education institutions is 40 minutes, and break times are determined according to school conditions. The letter also referenced the provision that the break time between classes cannot be less than 10 minutes and the lunch break cannot be less than 45 minutes; however, it noted that these times may be set shorter in schools operating on a double-shift system.

It was recalled that in the regulation regarding preschool and primary education institutions, the class hour is 40 minutes; break times in schools with single-shift education are regulated with certain lower limits, and in schools with double-shift education, at least 10 minutes are allocated for breaks.

The Ministry's letter stated that within this framework, in accordance with the planning of the governorates, the class hour duration in relevant schools can be reduced to 30 minutes.

'LUNCH BREAK CANNOT BE LESS THAN 45 MINUTES'

The following statements were included in the Ministry's letter:

*a) Ministry of National Education Secondary Education Institutions Regulation.*

*b) Ministry of National Education Preschool Education and Primary Education Institutions Regulation.*

*In the first paragraph of Article 9 titled "Class duration and daily working hours" of the Regulation in reference (a): "The duration of one class hour in secondary education institutions is 40 minutes. Break times between classes are determined by school administrations. The start, end, and lunch break times of classes are determined by a commission consisting of the school principal and the heads of school departments, in accordance with the provincial work calendar, taking into account the characteristics of the secondary education institution, the programs applied, and environmental and transportation conditions. The break time between classes cannot be less than 10 minutes, and the lunch break cannot be less than 45 minutes. However, these times may be set shorter in schools operating on a double-shift system." and the provisions in the first paragraph of Additional Article 3 titled "Measures to be taken regarding education, training, management, and operation in extraordinary situations" of the same Regulation; "In situations such as epidemics, natural disasters, and adverse weather conditions that affect general life in the district, province, or country, the procedures, principles, criteria, and quota regulations regarding education, training, management, and operation regulated by this Regulation may be determined separately by the Ministry." are included.*

'AT LEAST 10 MINUTES ALLOCATED'

*In clause (a) of the second paragraph of Article 6 of the Regulation in reference (b), the provisions "The duration of one class hour is 40 minutes. In schools with single-shift education, at least 20 minutes are allocated for one break and at least 15 minutes for other breaks by the school administration, and in schools with double-shift education, at least 10 minutes are allocated for breaks." are included.*

'CAN BE APPLIED DOWN TO 30 MINUTES'

*In this context, in the 2026-2027 academic year, in public primary and secondary education institutions that have been moved to another school's building due to being included in the scope of demolition-reconstruction or reinforcement, or that operate on a double-shift system due to student density, the class hour duration, which is stated as 40 minutes in the Regulations in reference (a) and (b), may be reduced to 30 minutes within the framework of planning to be carried out by the governorates.*