All courses operating outside their intended purpose will be closed

The Ministry of National Education has received complaints regarding certain personal development courses that, beyond their official permits to open an institution, carry out educational activities with content claiming to prepare students for high school and higher education entrance exams.

Following this, a letter containing sanctions against these institutions was sent to the governorships of 81 provinces, signed by Fethullah Güner, the General Manager of Private Education Institutions.

The letter recalled that the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey stipulates that education and training activities in the country must be carried out under the supervision and control of the state, and that the educational activities of all kinds of institutions, whether official, private, or voluntary, are subject to the supervision of the Ministry of National Education. It also cited the relevant provisions of Law No. 5580 on Private Education Institutions regarding the Ministry's oversight of these activities.

Furthermore, it was emphasized that "various courses," "private teaching courses," and "social activity and development centers," which are clearly defined in the law, must operate in accordance with their institution opening permits and must register trainees accordingly.

It was also reminded that those wishing to operate as a different type of institution must fulfill the necessary requirements to convert, and that institutions found to be using their institution opening permit outside of its intended purpose would have their workplace opening and operating licenses revoked in accordance with the provisions of the law, as previously communicated earlier this year.

OPERATING LICENSES WILL BE REVOKED

The letter requested that governorships carry out the necessary inspections and monitoring with sensitivity regarding the activities of personal development courses operating within the scope of "private teaching courses," "social activity and development centers," and "various courses."

Additionally, the letter requested that action be taken against institutions using their opening permits outside their intended purpose, in accordance with the provision in Law No. 5580 on Private Education Institutions: "The institution opening permit and workplace opening and operating license of institutions that are granted an institution opening permit but do not start operations within two years, that take unauthorized breaks longer than the period specified in the regulation after starting operations, or that are determined to be using said permit outside its intended purpose, shall be revoked."

On the other hand, in addition to personal development courses operating outside their intended purpose, the activities of social activity and development centers and private teaching courses that do not act in accordance with their purpose or do not enroll students appropriate to their level will also be terminated.

News Source: 12punto