Primary and secondary education
How is Turkish primary and secondary education organised? To which Dutch diplomas can you compare Turkish diplomas?
Primary and secondary education in Turkey
Primary education (ilköğretim) takes 8 years to complete and is for pupils aged 5½-14. Pupils follow their education at a primary school (ilkögretim okulu). After primary education, students can choose one of the following types of secondary education:
- general secondary education, concluded with exams for a Lise Diploması;
- technical secondary education, concluded with exams for a Teknik Lisesi Diploması;
- vocational secondary education, concluded with exams for a Meslek Lisesi Diploması.
There are separate schools for each type of secondary education.
Lise Diploması
Students conclude general secondary education with exams for a Lise Diploması.
- Duration: 4 years.
- Content: there are 6 subject clusters:
- fen bilimleri (natural sciences);
- yabancı dil (foreign language);
- sanat (art);
- sosyal bilimler (social sciences);
- spor (physical education); and
- Türkçe-matematik (Turkish-mathematics).
It is also possible not to choose a subject cluster. In that case, alanı/dalı states: alan(ı) yok on the diploma.
- Function of the diploma: grants the right to take university entrance exams.
- Diploma: Lise Diploması.
We compare a Lise Diploması to at least a HAVO diploma.
Please note: 'at least a HAVO diploma' means that the diploma has a higher level than a HAVO diploma, but a lower level than a VWO diploma. The level of the diploma lies between a HAVO diploma and a VWO diploma.
Teknik Lisesi Diploması
Students conclude technical secondary education with exams for a Teknik Lisesi Diploması.
- Duration: 4 years.
- Content: general education subjects, with an extra focus on sciences. In addition, students develop skills for a specific profession.
- Function of the diploma: this diploma grants admission to university entrance exams for all specialisations.
- Diploma: Teknik Lisesi Diploması.
We compare a Teknik Lisesi Diploması to a HAVO diploma for the general education component.
Meslek Lisesi Diploması
Students conclude vocational secondary education with exams for a Meslek Lisesi Diploması.
- Duration: 4 years.
- Content: students receive general education in Year 1 and choose a vocational specialisation from Year 2. This specialisation is usually mentioned on the diploma in front of the word Meslek.
- Function of the diploma: this diploma grants admission to university entrance exams following a compulsory additional year at a teknik lise.
- Diploma: Meslek Lisesi Diploması.
We compare a Meslek Lisesi Diploması to an MBO diploma at level 2 or 3. This depends on the content of the study programme.