(extracted from the UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD INITIAL STATE REPORT TURKEY 1999 - ANKARA)

The Turkish National Education System

Principles and Aims of Education (Article 29)

Turkey places utmost importance for the development of human resources. Therefore, education is one of the highest priorities of Turkey.

According to the Turkish Constitution (Article 42):

"No one shall be deprived of the right of learning and education.

The scope of the right to education shall be defined and regulated by law.

Training and education shall be conducted along the lines of the principles and reforms of Atatürk, on the basis of contemporary science and educational methods, under the supervision and control of the state. Institutions of training and education contravening these provisions shall not be established.

The freedom of training and education does not relieve the individual from loyalty to the Constitution.

Primary education is compulsory for all citizens of both sexes and is free of charge in state schools.

The principles governing the functioning of private primary and secondary schools shall be regulated by law in keeping with the standards set for state schools.

No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institutions of training or education. Foreign languages to be taught in institutions of training and education and the rules to be followed by schools conducting training and education in a foreign language shall be determined by law. The provisions of international treaties are reserved."

Thus, the Constitution has secured the right of education and training without any discrimination and with attributing utmost importance to the best interests of the child.

The rights of education that are secured by the Constitution has acquired the necessary definition and scope with the Basic National Education Law No. 1739.

According to the Basic National Education Law No. 1739:

"The general aim of the Turkish National Education System is:

1. To educate individuals of the Turkish nation as citizens who understand and who are devoted to the principles and reforms of Atatürk, who believe in, protect and develop national, spiritual, humanistic and cultural values of the Turkish nation; who are conscious of their duties to the Turkish Republic which is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law.

The aim is to increase the welfare and happiness of Turkish citizens and the Turkish society as a whole and to support and accelerate the economic, social and cultural development in national unity and integrity and finally to make the Turkish nation a distinguished partner of the contemporary civilization."

A significant increase is observed in the number of schools, students, teachers and lecturers in Turkey.

In the annex paragraph of article 2 of the Law on Private Education Institutions, it is stipulated that the private education institutions shall improve their quality of education in line with the Turkish National Education objectives and principles.

In article 3 of the same law, the establishment of these institutions in regions of priority for development is motivated.

Law No. 2841 covers citizens who have completed the compulsory basic education or who are illiterate and the public and private education institutions and establishments.

According to this law, the Ministry of National Education is the "central and supervisory institution" for the implementation and coordination of educational activities. This central role of the Ministry is shared by the establishments and institutions in the provinces in accordance with the modern approach administration.

The public institutions are obliged to provide reading and writing courses for their illiterate employees.

The Regulation No. 2201 on Guidance Services of the Ministry of National Education aims to arrange the principles regarding the establishment and functioning of guidance and research centers and the offices of student guidance services. The guiding teachers are required to have experience in pedagogy for helping with the adaptation problems of the student and the grading of their vocational talents, skills and intelligence levels.

Public Education Institutions

Public education covers all of the schools from pre-school education to higher education. The Turkish education system has four stages:

• Pre-school Education
• Basic Education

• Secondary Education

• Higher Education

The education which is conducted from the birth of the child until the end of his fifth year of age (60th month) is considered as pre-school education.

According to the Basic Law on National Education, the aims of pre-school education are as follows:

• To provide the physical, mental and spiritual development of the child and to help the child to acquire good habits;

• To prepare the child for basic education;

• To provide a common education opportunity for children who come from families and environments with unsuitable conditions;

• To make the children speak the Turkish language correctly and eloquently.

The Regulation on Pre-school Education Institutions covers public and private nursery-schools, nursery-classes and practical classes that are affiliated to the Ministry of National Education. The aim of the Regulation is to arrange the principles regarding the administration of and the education provided by specified institutions.

When its aims and scope are taken into consideration, this Regulation is in compliance with the principles of "the best interest of the child," "the right of the child to live, to continue his/her life and to develop," "respecting the ideas of the child" contained in the CRC.

Attending pre-school education, which is an important stage of public education, is not compulsory according to the Turkish National Education System.

Basic Education Institutions

"Basic education" covers the education period of children between 6-14 years of age.

This period which was considered to start at the age of 7 has been reduced to the age of 6 as a result of the decisions taken by the National Education Council in 1982 to make the education system more efficient.

Basic education used to be classified in the way that the first five years of this period was considered as primary school which was compulsory and the second three years was considered as secondary school. However, in 1997, as it was envisaged in Turkey’s "Seventh Five-Year Development Plan," compulsory education was increased from five years to eight years by the Law No. 4306.

Primary education is multi-purpose education. Its task is to issue academic curricula for both adults and children. Adults who do not know how to read and write and who were unable to complete their basic education can benefit from these programs.

According to the Law on Basic Education and Training, primary education is the basic education and training which contributes to the physical, mental and moral development and education of all Turkish citizens in accordance with the national aims. Primary education is given in basic education institutions. It is free of charge in public schools. The period of compulsory basic education covers the children at the age group of 6 to 14 years.

The Regulation on Primary Education Institutions of the Ministry of National Education sets out the principles regarding the establishment, tasks and functioning of day-time and boarding public and private basic education institutions (primary schools, secondary schools) affiliated to the Ministry of National Education and contains the principles regarding passing classes, exams and attendance to education institutions. This regulation is in accordance with the spirit of the National Basic Education Law No. 1739.

"Modernization of Education 2000" project has been in force together with the Law No. 4306. The following will be accomplished by the 2000-2001 academic year through this project:

• classes will shrink to 30 students by the year 2000,
• quality in education will be more effectively provided to the students living in rural areas with an unsuitable climate and insufficient transport networks or security problems, through central schools which will also supply them with lunch,
• education will be provided in regional boarding basic education institutions or basic education institutions with lodgings for children in rural areas where climate and transportation facilities are not suitable or safe and all their expenses will be met,
• poor students will be provided with uniforms, bags, textbooks and notebooks, as needed.
• computer labs will be set up at basic education institutions and students will be taught computer classes, besides working on other subjects with a computer supported education approach in these labs.
• children will be taught at least one foreign language,
• schools will be equipped with more modern equipment
• a "learning society” will be created by enabling the individuals " learn and to conduct research on the ways of learning” with a rational and scientific approach,
• the necessary infrastructure will be created to ensure the physical development of children in addition to their intellectual abilities,

• The construction of 12.103 classrooms in 1997 and 21.620 classrooms was completed in 1998.
• By the end of 1998, 38.900 more students were provided boarding school education through the introduction of 61 regional boarding primary education schools and 26 primary schools with lodging.
• 521.784 students are freely provided with transportation facilities and lunch and furthermore, their stationary and school wear expenses are met by the state budget.
• The quality of education will be enhanced through “Basic Education Program” created in line with the loan agreement with the World Bank.
• Foreign language learning is compulsory for students from 4^th to 8^th grades; A second foreign language is optional for these students.
• Textbooks and curricula have been geared to student centered education.
• In the 1997-1998 academic year, the enrollment of female students to basic education institutions in rural areas increased by 39 percent. To ensure the schooling of all female students, the number of regional boarding primary schools for girls which had been only one, was increased to nine.

Secondary education institutions give general, vocational and technical education for a minimum of three years following eight years of basic education. The aim of secondary education is to give a common general culture to the students and to prepare them for higher education and business in line with their talents and skills.

The Seventh Five-Year Development Plan aims at raising the rates in Table 8 to a total of 75 percent in 2001. In this total, it was foreseen that the rate of general high schools shall reach 40.5 percent and the rate of vocational and technical schools shall reach 34.5 percent. In case of the realization of the targets, the rates between general high schools and the vocational and technical schools will be quite close.

Higher Education Institutions

Education institutions which give higher education for a minimum of two years following basic education are called higher education institutions.

Universities are established for giving undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education.

The aim of higher education is to bring up persons with human interests, in a way to develop their talents and skills to the best of their abilities.

Law No. 2547 on Higher Education covers institutions of higher education, high schools, their affiliated units and activities and principles regarding these institutions. The aim in this law is to determine the goals and principles regarding higher education, to set out the principles regarding education, training, research, publishing, lecturers, students and other personnel and the organization, functioning, tasks, authorities and liabilities of all the high schools and higher education institutions.

In Turkey, the rate of contribution of the universities to national research development is 69 percent, beyond the average figure of 50 percent.

Informal Education

Informal education constitutes an independent part in the Basic Law on National Education.

Informal and vocational education in Turkey equip the unqualified young who are left outside school with vocational education in a manner that shall fulfill the challenges of the twenty-first century.

The office liable of informal education in Turkey at first degree is the "General Directorate of Apprenticeship and Informal Education of the Ministry of National Education” which provides informal education services in Turkey through the affiliated institutions and centers listed below:

- Practical Art Schools for Girls

- Maturation Institutions (which are higher level continuations of vocational technical institutions)

- Industrial Practical Art Schools

- Vocational Education Centers

- Technical Education Centers for Adults

- Public Education Centers

- Apprenticeship Education Centers

- Private Courses

- Private Classrooms

- Applied Education Institutions (Special Education)

- Vocational Schools (Special Education)

- Vocational Education Centers (Special Education)

Forms of Special education in Turkey are in compliance with article 28/3 of the CRC with a view to achieving the right of education for every child.

Informal vocational education in Turkey has three important aims:

1. To prevent youngsters who are at school age and stay out of school part time or full time, from being left to their own destiny as unqualified workers,
2. To teach them to implement new technologies, to make a career and to achieve a lifetime development and progress,
3. To provide knowledge and skills for housewives.

Private education institutions have been provided a legal ground by the Law No. 625 with its annexes and modification that have been put into force in accordance with article 42 of the Constitution, as well as regulations and directives which have been put into force in relation with this. Private education institutions, giving the service of education under the control and supervision of the state continue their activities as:

- Private Turkish Schools

- Private Minority Schools

- Private Foreign Schools

- Private International Schools

Private minority schools are private schools opened by minority groups (Greeks, Armenians, and Jews according to the Lausanne Peace Treaty) in Turkey. Many nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools and high schools which have been established by Greeks, Armenians and Jews continue to provide education.

Article 40 of the Law No. 625 states that "They (minorities) shall have equal rights in the establishment, administration and supervision of all kinds of charity establishments, religious and social institutions, all types of schools and similar education and training institutions provided that the expenses are covered by them and they will be free to use their own languages and execute their religious ceremonies."

Article 41 of the same Law says that "In general (public) education, appropriate circumstances shall be provided by the Turkish Government for the provision of education for the children of these Turkish citizens in their primary schools and in their mother languages in the provinces where non-Moslem citizens reside. This provision shall not obstruct the compulsory teaching of the Turkish language in the concerned schools by the Turkish Government."

Environmental Education

According to article 56 of the Turkish Constitution, "Everyone has right to live in a healthy and balanced environment. It is the duty of the State and citizens to improve the natural environment and to prevent environmental pollution."

In order to develop the sensitivity of the citizens against environmental problems and to provide their active participation in the solution of these problems, a protocol has been signed between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Environment on 16.11.1993.

Leisure and Social Activities (Article 31)

The institutions of the state entrusted with leisure and social activities are as follows:

- The General Directorate of Youth and Sports

- The General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection Agency

- The Ministry of National Education

- The Ministry of Culture

According to article 58 of the Turkish Constitution, "The State shall take necessary measures to protect youth from addiction to alcohol, drug addiction, crime, gambling, and similar vices, and ignorance.”

The participation of the child in leisure activities is an important factor which supports public education in terms of building self-confidence and integrity.

The General Directorate of Youth and Sports is entrusted with the task of providing physical training, gymnastics and sports activities and taking the necessary measures for the protection of youth from bad habits.

The activities organized by the General Directorate of Youth and Sports are as follows:

• Youth Centers: 79 Youth Centers have been opened for the purpose of providing social, cultural and sports activities. The number of the members of these centers is approximately 70 thousand.

• Youth Camps: The aim in these camps is to assist the young to relax and to take part in activities other than studying and working, as well as to help young people become creative, productive and socially healthy.

• Socio-cultural Activities: Music and dance contests are organized annually among universities, youth centers, associations, establishments and institutions.

• Youth Festivals: Youth festivals are organized annually in every province for the purpose of exhibiting the cultural and artistic activities of the youth. Many young people take part in these festivals.

• Guidance and Consultancy Services: Young people face personal, economic and employment problems. Consultancy and guidance services are available at schools and social welfare centers to help them to cope better with these problems. Offices are established every year during entrance exams to universities to provide such services for the students.

• Youth Week: Annually, the week between the dates of 15-21 May is celebrated as the Youth Week with the decision No. 83/6394 of the Council of Ministers. Various activities are organized all over the country within the framework of the Youth Week.

The General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection Agency renders boarding care service for approximately 20 thousand children who are from the 0-18 age group and who are under the protection decision of the courts or who are disabled.

The Law No. 2828 on Social Services and Child Protection Agency stipulates the principles and procedures regarding the establishment of social services for families, children, the disabled, the elderly and other people who are in need of protection, care or aid.

The institutions which are functioning in this field are as follows:

1. Children’s Homes: These are boarding social service institutions which are authorized and responsible for the physical, educational and psycho-social development of children between 0-12 years of age, and when required, for girls older than 12 years of age as well.
2. Training Institutions: These are boarding social service institutions which are authorized and responsible for the protection and care of children between the ages of 13-18 who are in need of protection and for providing jobs and education to them.
3. Day-care Centers: These are non-boarding social service institutions which require payment for the services rendered and which are established for the purpose of caring for children of the age group of 0-6, protecting and developing their physical and psychological health and helping them acquire values and habits.
4. Care and Rehabilitation Centers: These are social service institutions which are established in order to solve the problems of those who cannot adapt to the requirements of a normal life due to their physical, mental and psychological disabilities and to help them acquire skills which will make them self-sufficient in the society or to provide continuous care for those who cannot acquire these skills.
5. Child and Youth Centers: These are day-time and boarding social service institutions which are established for giving temporary rehabilitation and reintegration services to street children who are potentially in social danger due to conflicts between parents, diseases, poverty, abandonment, negligence and bad habits.
6. Family Advisory and Rehabilitation Centers: These are daily social service institutions which give services to disabled children and families for promoting harmony in families, preparing disabled children for school training and making disabled children self-sufficient.

The Basic Law on National Education considers leisure activities to be a part of "informal education." The purpose of leisure activities are defined in Article 6 of this Law as a means to provide the acquirement of the habit of spending leisure time in the best way.

The Regulation No. 2410 on Training Studies of Primary and Secondary Schools, High Schools and Equivalent Schools entrusts the Ministry of National Education with the task of implementing and organizing ceremonies, meetings and social, cultural, sportive and other types of training studies at primary and secondary schools, high schools and equivalent public and private schools.

In principle, every student attends at least one training branch.

Education and training activities of students during and after lessons are planned and provided in an integrative and complementary method.

Cultural Activities (Article 31)

Fine Arts Services

State galleries for fine arts provide facilities for public school students who are interested in fine arts.

The Child Choir of the State Opera has been established on 11 November 1983 and has been affiliated to the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture with a protocol dated 15 November 1990. It has been continuing its activities since 1990 as the State Child Choir. The State Child Choir comprises 300 children and has trained approximately 1500 children since its establishment. The Child Choir has first performed a child opera in Turkey in 1988 and since then has taken part in many opera-productions It has performed many television programs and concerts, and has gone on tours abroad and in Turkey.

There are 44 State Galleries for Fine Arts and three art museums which are affiliated to the Ministry of Culture.

Courses on fine arts are organized for children from the age groups of 16-18, 12-16 and 5-12 in State Galleries for Fine Arts.

Art contests are organized for children from the age group 5-16. Art studies by children are encouraged. Children who are successful in these contests are given awards. Talented children can enjoy special government grants to study abroad.

Library Services

The principles of public library services are in compliance with the CRC in terms of rendering services free of charge and without any discrimination.

According to article 9 of the Regulation on Public and Children’s Libraries "Children’s departments of public libraries are established for the purpose of helping children who are younger than 16 to develop their knowledge with their own will." Children’s Libraries affiliated to Public Libraries which have reached to a number of 1.343 in 1998, are established in different buildings. A corner is allocated for children’s books in Public Libraries.

The Regulation on Public and Children’s Libraries foresees the screening of informative movies and children’s programs in the children’s departments of public libraries and private children’s libraries and the organization of tales, poetry and monologue hours and children's plays.

These cultural activities to be organized in public and children's libraries are laid down in the "Regulation regarding Education and Cultural Activities in Libraries."

Library services are rendered by mobile libraries for children and adults who live in rural areas. As of the end of 1995, 73 mobile libraries were rendering services all over the country.

Pre-school departments are included in some public libraries. These departments are furnished in line with the needs and interests of pre-school children. In addition to pictured books, audio-visual materials such as television, video and toys which help their mental development (legos, chess, cars, dolls, puppets, etc.) are included.

In order to provide more reading facilities for children, services are rendered with permanent collections for youth camps, holiday villages, child departments of the hospitals and training institutions and children's homes in accordance with the protocol that has been signed with the General Directorate for Social Services and Child Protection Agency.

Services are rendered for children with visual disorders in the "speaking library" departments of the libraries.

Monuments and Museums

Children can visit museums with classmates or families free of charge in Turkey. Besides this, museum experts visit schools to give information on museums and ancient works and perform slide shows.

In the recent years, new ways have been developed to attract the attention of children to ancient works and museums.

Child departments have been opened in the Istanbul and Antalya Archeological Museums. A department for children will be opened in the Ankara Anatolian Civilizations Museum.

Movies

According to the Law on Movie, Video and Music Works and article 12 of the Regulation on the Supervision of Movie, Video and Music Works, the exhibition and performance of film, movie and music works for children younger than the age of 16 which will negatively affect their physical and mental health and development are prohibited. This has to be stated in posters, photographs and announcements related to the promotion of such films, videos, and music works.

Research and Development of Public Libraries

In accordance with the Decree issued in the Official Gazette No. 20096:

• Children's games are collected and published,
• Video filming of children's games is realized,
• Tales are collected and published,
• Theater festivals are organized for children to promote traditional puppet theater characters such as "Karagöz and Hacivat" and puppet theaters, in general. This festival is held every two years at the international level since 1993.

The General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, established with the Law No. 1309, is represented and administered by a general manager according to the public law provisions and is affiliated to the Ministry of Culture.

The first child ballet course under the body of the Ministry of Culture started functioning in 1971. One of the beneficial aspects of these courses is that they help talented children to prepare for the exams of State Conservatories.

Children’s plays are performed every year by the State Theaters.

Cultural Education (Article 31)

The aims of cultural education are specified in articles 2 and 25 of the relevant Decree. Provisions that are directly related to the development and education of children are not included in this Decree, however, references to children are made in the provisions concerning general activities such as the creation and extension of culture.

Competitions are organized and conferences are held among primary and high schools and their equivalents within the framework of cultural activities for the purpose of creating sensitivity for the protection of cultural assets. As a result of these activities, approximately 10 thousand students have participated in the competitions and conferences.

Art, poetry and essay writing competitions are organized among the students of primary and high schools and their equivalents all over the country.