Is ÖSYM Broke? The 2026 Wage Controversy

Today is July 5, 2026, and the Turkish media landscape, particularly news outlets like Haber61, is facing a controversial question: "Is ÖSYM (Turkey's Assessment, Selection and Placement Center) out of money?" This question arose after thousands of teachers and civil servants who collaborated in the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) on June 20 and 21, 2026, have yet to receive their remuneration [1].

The Wage Payment Crisis in YKS 2026 The YKS exam, considered the largest annual educational event in Turkey, was held in 2026 with the participation of millions of candidates. Candidates paid approximately 1400 Lira for each stage of this exam, generating massive revenue for ÖSYM [1]. However, reports indicate that the wages for proctors, hall supervisors, and building officials, which range between 1403 and 3508 Lira, have not yet been deposited into their accounts [2].

Following the pattern of previous years, these amounts were expected to be deposited within 7 to 15 days after the end of the exam. Now that we are on the fifteenth day post-exam, the silence of ÖSYM and the absence of payments in the GİS (Staff Transaction System) have led media outlets like Haber61 to question the organization's financial status [2].

The Heavy Shadow of Budget Deficits on State Institutions The question regarding ÖSYM's financial status comes at a time when recent economic reports show severe pressure on Turkey's central budget. According to data from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the government budget deficit in the first quarter of 2026 exceeded 526 billion Lira [3]. This economic situation has caused any delay in government payments to be immediately interpreted as a sign of liquidity shortage.

Educational experts believe that ÖSYM, as an institution that generates high income through exam registration fees, should not face problems in paying its staff. However, some claim that the organization's revenues may have been prioritized to cover other government expenses or infrastructure projects [3].

Changes in the Exam Calendar and Administrative Pressures In addition to financial issues, ÖSYM has faced administrative challenges in recent weeks. Bayram Ali Ersoy, the President of ÖSYM, recently announced that due to the NATO summit in Ankara, some important exams, including the Ministry of National Education Academy Entrance Exam (MEB AGS), have been postponed to July 26 [4]. These sudden changes and logistical pressures have likely diverted the organization's managerial focus away from payment issues.

What Will Be the Fate of the Payments? While teachers on social media are demanding financial transparency from ÖSYM using protest hashtags, the organization is expected to issue an official statement in the coming days. Payments are usually made in phases, with priority given to larger provinces. However, until the amounts are settled in the employees' accounts, the shadow of the question "Is ÖSYM broke?" will weigh heavily on this institution [1][2].