Istanbul is set to welcome the 2026-2027 academic year with nearly 2.7 million students attending 7,529 schools across the city, according to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education.

A total of 157,418 teachers will serve students across Istanbul as the new academic year begins with orientation week.

Preparations for the new school year have included investments in schools and classrooms, maintenance and renovation work, educational programs, school safety measures, digital education initiatives and projects aimed at supporting student development.

Authorities also plan to implement the Ministry of National Education's Türkiye Century Education Model across educational institutions in Istanbul, with a focus on academic knowledge as well as students' skills, values, social-emotional development and ability to connect learning with everyday life.

A total of 684,283 students will enter a new educational stage this year. This includes 216,341 first graders, 239,946 fifth graders and 227,996 ninth graders.

82 new schools to open

Istanbul will add 82 new schools and 2,202 classrooms to its education infrastructure this academic year.

The new schools include eight kindergartens, 23 primary schools, 29 middle schools, 16 high schools and six special education schools.

The city has also completed maintenance and renovation work at 313 schools using funding provided by the Ministry of National Education (MEB).

Of the 41.1 million textbooks planned for distribution in Istanbul, more than 22.1 million have already been delivered, while distribution of the remaining books continues.

Under the Türkiye Century Education Model, schools will place greater emphasis on skills development, values, social-emotional learning and students' ability to relate academic knowledge to real-life situations.

Schools will also expand the use of out-of-school learning environments to complement classroom education.

School safety measures will continue in cooperation with relevant institutions, while programs promoting healthy eating and physical fitness will also remain in place.

Authorities will continue monitoring student attendance to prevent disengagement from education, while individualized education programs will be planned and monitored for students requiring special education.

Digital education expanded

The use of digital education platforms will be expanded during the new academic year.

The education authorities also plan to complete the transition to Pardus, Türkiye’s domestically developed Linux-based operating system, on smart boards in schools and ensure the effective use of the Ministry Management System.

Vocational and technical education programs will continue to monitor workplace-based skills training and internship processes, while support courses will be planned according to student needs.

Istanbul Provincial Director of National Education Murat Mücahit Yentür said the city's schools and teachers were ready for the new academic year.

"Istanbul is ready. Our schools are ready. Our teachers are ready. And most importantly, we are ready to build our children's future today," Yentür said.

He emphasized the importance of teachers in transforming educational programs and technology into meaningful experiences for students.

"We can build buildings, renew technology and prepare programs, but it is the teacher who makes all of these meaningful in a child's life," Yentür said.