Scandal in Turkey's 2026 YKS Exam; Teachers' Union Harshly Criticizes Lack of Meritocracy

The 2026 Turkish university entrance exam (YKS), held with the participation of over 2.5 million candidates, has once again become a scene of widespread protests and scientific controversies. Following technical reviews by the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), it was officially announced that one question in the literature section was cancelled and the answer key for one question in the mathematics section was changed [2]. These late corrections have triggered a wave of harsh criticism from civil society organizations and educational unions.

Dimensions of the 2026 YKS Scandal In response to these events, the Eğitim-İş union released a statement titled "The YKS Scandal is the Result of a Lack of Meritocracy," strongly attacking the performance of ÖSYM and the Ministry of National Education. The union believes that scientific errors in the design of exam questions are not merely simple "technical errors," but rather indicate a collapse of educational standards at management levels [1]. According to this body, when expertise is sacrificed for political loyalty in appointments, the result is nothing but gambling with the fate of millions of young people.

Criticism of the Unserious Approach to Education Another part of the statement points to the government's "unserious attitude" toward education. Critics believe that an excessive focus on police-like surveillance in exam halls and the installation of cameras in teachers' rooms, instead of focusing on the scientific quality of questions, has damaged the psychological security of students and the scientific credibility of the exam [3]. The cancellation of questions after the exam not only changes the final rankings of candidates but also completely destroys public trust in educational justice.

Consequences of Answer Key Changes for Candidates Changing the correct answer for question number 23 in the Mathematics (AYT) section from option "C" to "A" and the cancellation of question 20 in the literature section has affected the score calculations for millions of students [2]. Educational unions warn that these inconsistencies increase anxiety and despair among a generation that has worked for years for this competition. They demand full transparency regarding the question design process and the dismissal of officials whose incompetence led to this "educational scandal" [1]. This situation has once again brought the necessity of structural reforms in ÖSYM and a return to the principles of meritocracy to the top of public demands.