Turkish Ministry of Education Puts the Brakes on Anadolu High Schools; Controversial 2026 Changes

The Ministry of National Education of Turkey (MEB) has implemented extensive reforms in the Secondary Education Institutions Regulation on the eve of announcing the High School Entrance Exam (LGS) results. These changes, published in the Official Gazette on July 3, 2026, have made the admission criteria for Anadolu high schools significantly stricter and transformed the capacity approval process for these schools into a complex administrative path [1][2].

New and Strict Criteria for Anadolu High Schools According to the new regulations, "academic success" alone will no longer be sufficient for an Anadolu high school to admit students through the central exam. Applicant schools must now be evaluated based on multiple indicators, including implemented projects, social and cultural activities, certificates and patents, as well as success in national and international competitions [2][4].

This process involves several monitoring stages; first, provincial evaluation commissions prepare their reports, and after approval at various levels, the final decision must be signed by the Minister of National Education personally. Meanwhile, for vocational schools and religious schools (Imam Hatip), the process remains much simpler, requiring only the proposal of the relevant Director General and the Minister's approval [1][3].

Expert Criticism: Forced Guidance Toward Vocational and Private Schools Many education experts have described this move as a "brake" or even a "gradual liquidation" of Anadolu high schools. Özgür Bozdoğan, an education activist, believes that by making conditions difficult for Anadolu schools, the Ministry is attempting to steer students toward vocational or religious schools [3].

On the other hand, there are concerns that by reducing the capacity of public Anadolu high schools, families seeking academic education for their children may be forced toward private schools. This issue could deepen the class gap in access to quality education in the 2026-2027 academic year [3][4].

Special Privilege for Foreign Students: Bilingual Diploma Alongside these restrictions, the new regulation includes positive news for international students living in Turkey. From now on, foreign nationals graduating from official Turkish high schools can receive a special "Anadolu High School" diploma in both Turkish and a foreign language, in addition to the standard degree [2]. This move aims to facilitate the international equivalence process for these students' educational documents.

LGS 2026 Selection Timeline According to the Ministry of Education, the results of the LGS exam, which was held on June 13, will be announced on July 10, 2026. Students and their parents must make their school selections and determine their priorities between July 13 and July 24 [1][3]. Given the new rules, competition for the limited seats in top Anadolu high schools is expected to be much more intense this year than in previous years.