Ankara - The Turkish government, which was previously unable to directly finance state schools abroad, started allocating a budget for these schools. Due to restrictions on education cooperation agreements or lack of bilateral agreements with countries where the schools are located, the Turkish government was only able to assign teachers to those schools in the past.

With new regulations, funds for state schools abroad, previously provided by parents of students, will be supplied through offices of the Ministry of National Education abroad.

Schools are located in 21 countries including the United States, Russia, United Kingdom and France.

Thanks to the funding regulations, Turkish families living in those countries will not have to pay high expenses. The budget allocation proposal needs to be ratified by the president before its implementation.

The funding of state schools comes amid a row between the government and the powerful Gülen Movement that runs an international network of private schools in many countries. Gülenists are accused of running "a parallel structure" within the state.

Also, through a new bill enacted by the Turkish Parliament last month, prep schools, most of which are owned and operated by Gülenists, will be closed.