Minister Tekin's defense of 'MESEM'

During the deliberations on the 2026 budget of the Ministry of National Education at the TBMM General Assembly, Minister Yusuf Tekin made significant statements regarding vocational training and child labor. Tekin emphasized that vocational training is one of the cornerstones of Turkey's economic and moral structure.

Responding to criticisms regarding the MESEM program, Minister Tekin stated that this program has made the apprenticeship training, which has been implemented since 1977, a part of formal education. He noted that young people who have graduated from middle school and are over the age of 14 gain skills while being insured and under contract as they continue their compulsory secondary education process. Tekin said that in this process, children are in no way viewed as cheap labor and that every step is closely monitored.

Minister Tekin stated that the difference between vocational training and child labor is clearly separated by the Constitution and international conventions. He expressed that occupational health and safety are also guaranteed by Law No. 6331 and the Vocational Education Law No. 3308. Tekin emphasized that they act with the awareness that every child is a trust and that approaches that put children's safety at risk are unacceptable.

Tekin announced that as of the 2024-2025 academic year, 253 thousand businesses have been inspected and contracts with 23 thousand 252 non-compliant businesses have been terminated. He stated that businesses are regularly inspected by occupational health and safety experts and that contracts are canceled when any deficiency is detected. Furthermore, he said that school principals and coordinator vocational teachers regularly monitor and report on the environments where students are located.

Minister Tekin also directed criticisms toward the CHP during his speech.