Türkiye’s new academic year begins on Monday for approximately 17 million students and 1.2 million teachers across primary and secondary education institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MEB).
The 2026-2027 academic year will center on the theme “Play at the Heart of Education,” in line with the holistic education approach of the Century of Türkiye Education Model.
The education model, which was gradually introduced in the 2024-2025 academic year, will expand this year to cover kindergarten and practice classes, grades one through three of primary school, grades five through seven of middle school, and preparatory, ninth, 10th and 11th grades of secondary education.
The ministry held orientation programs from Sept. 7-11 for preschool, first-grade and fifth-grade students to support their transition to school and encourage families to take an active role in the education process.
During the first week of the academic year, schools will also organize activities under the theme “Let No Kites Be Shot Down, Let the Sky Belong to Children” to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza.
Students will take part in kite-design, art and exhibition activities, as well as projects addressing peace, security, solidarity and the right to education. Messages for children in Gaza will also be included.
The activities will continue through Sept. 18 in areas designated by provincial authorities, with parents encouraged to participate.
The ministry has prepared 283,354,674 free textbooks covering 2,025 different subjects for the new academic year.
The materials include 10 subjects for preschool education, 420 for primary education, 340 for secondary education, 210 for special education and 1,045 for vocational education.
New educational materials have also been prepared for the first time, including the “My Child’s First Step to School Notebook” for preschool and first-grade students and materials focused on the Turkic world for primary and secondary education.
The ministry is introducing measures aimed at strengthening school safety, including controlled entry and exit procedures, separating pedestrian and vehicle traffic, illuminating blind spots and completing maintenance work required for safe emergency evacuations.
Parents will be required to schedule school meetings through the “School Appointment System,” and unannounced visits will not be permitted. Individuals who are not a student’s parent or legal guardian will also not be allowed to enter schools.
The ministry will continue its policy preventing students from keeping mobile phones in classrooms, while teachers will also be prohibited from using mobile phones during lessons.
Schools will also increase guidance on the responsible use of digital technologies and raise awareness of factors contributing to digital addiction.
Under the “Play at the Heart of Education” theme, schools will incorporate age- and development-appropriate, safe and inclusive games into educational activities.
Traditional children’s games will also be included, reflecting the ministry’s view that play is an integral part of children’s learning, development, socialization, creativity and self-expression.
The activities will be conducted in accordance with the principles of the MEB’s Play Policy Document.
The first midterm break of the academic year will run from Nov. 16-20, while the semester break will take place from Jan. 25 to Feb. 5, 2027.
The second semester begins on Feb. 8, with the second midterm break scheduled for March 8-12.
The 2026-2027 academic year concludes on June 25, 2027.
