OECD Praises Turkey's 'Extraordinary Leap' in Education

Transformation in Educational Infrastructure and Stunning Statistics During his visit to the city of Rize on June 25, 2026, Yusuf Tekin, Turkey's Minister of National Education, shared new details of the country's international successes in education with the media. Pointing out that Turkey's physical, technological, and academic infrastructure has undergone a 'revolution' since 2002, he emphasized that the number of classrooms in the country has risen from approximately 330,000 in 2002 to over 750,000 in 2026 [3]. This unprecedented expansion has resulted in student-to-teacher ratios and classroom densities in many regions of Turkey now surpassing global averages and OECD standards [1].

OECD Praise and Top Ranking in TIMSS According to the Minister of Education, senior OECD officials used the phrase 'extraordinary leap' in their official and public discussions to describe the new state of education in Turkey [1][4]. Tekin noted that last year, Turkey succeeded in ranking among the top 5 countries in Europe in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) indicators. This achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted investments in educational content quality and the training of specialized human resources. He added that these transformations are not limited to the capital; in cities like Rize, there is now one teacher for every 8 students at the high school level, which is considered an international record [5].

Bright Outlook for PISA 2026 Results One of the most important parts of Yusuf Tekin's speech was the reference to the upcoming results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which are scheduled to be officially released on September 8, 2026. Citing unofficial data and feedback received from OECD officials, he predicted that Turkey will experience a significant climb in this round of international scientific competitions [1][3]. According to him, these results will serve as a seal of approval for 'educational justice' policies and the modern school-building models known as 'Project Schools,' which have been implemented since 2014 with the aim of improving quality across various regions of the country [4].

Emphasis on Raising 'Competent Individuals' in the New Educational Model In another part of his speech, the Turkish Minister of Education referred to the 'Century of Turkey Education Model' (Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli) and stated that the ultimate goal of these programs is not just to improve academic rankings, but to raise competent and ethical individuals who can be influential on a global level [2]. Expressing gratitude for the support of President Erdoğan, he emphasized that the current political will is to ensure all students, regardless of geographical location or economic status, have access to the best educational facilities so that this 'extraordinary leap' remains sustainable in the coming decades [1][4].