Ministry of National Education bans Christmas, Halloween, and Easter in private schools!
With the new regulation, activities that are contrary to national and cultural values and do not contribute to the development of students have been banned.
12punto
The Ministry of National Education has made changes to the Regulation on Private Educational Institutions. With the amendment, it was stated that activities that cannot contribute to the psychosocial development of students and activities contrary to national and cultural values are prohibited. Following this change, a warning letter regarding activities such as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter had been sent to private schools in December 2023.
According to the regulation change published in the Official Gazette, a new type of institution called a "social activity and development center" has been defined, where studies supporting the academic development of middle school students, as well as social, cultural, artistic, and sports activities aimed at their interests, desires, and talents, will be conducted.
Furthermore, a change was made regarding the opening, transfer, and relocation of private educational institutions, such that only a title deed will be requested instead of the mandatory submission of a building title deed and a building occupancy permit, and a building occupancy permit will no longer be required.
With the regulation, it has become mandatory for the curricula and teaching materials used by international private educational institutions that do not implement the Turkish curriculum to be approved by the Board of Education and Discipline.
On the other hand, with the change regarding the annual work calendars and working hours of schools, it has been stipulated that activities contrary to the general functioning of education and training, such as centralized exams, as well as national and cultural values, cannot be held. Additionally, it has been made mandatory for schools to use textbooks approved by the ministry.
It was stated that the independent entrance requirement for conversions to private teaching courses has been removed to encourage such conversions, and that trainees whose programs are ongoing at the end of the conversion are allowed to continue their education at the same institution.
Finally, institutions that accept students into fields not covered by incentives in vocational high schools opened in Organized Industrial Zones have been allowed to charge fees to these students.