A comprehensive nationwide survey conducted by Turkish education unions Memur-Sen and Eğitim-Bir-Sen has revealed strong support for restructuring Türkiye’s “4+4+4” compulsory education system, with many calling for a shorter and more flexible model.
The study, one of the most extensive to date, gathered input from more than 36,000 participants, including teachers, school administrators, students, and parents across all 81 provinces. Results show a clear preference for a “2+2” structure for the final four years of schooling — two years compulsory, followed by two optional.
Announcing the findings at the Memur-Sen General Headquarters in Ankara, union president Ali Yalçın said over 93% of teachers and administrators surveyed supported reforming the current system. He said the present model no longer aligns with societal needs or modern educational and labor market realities.
“The 12-year compulsory structure does not reflect today’s Türkiye,” Yalçın said. “It fails to prepare students adequately for the workforce or for higher education, and contributes to dropout rates.”
The study included over 17,000 teachers, more than 7,000 administrators, 5,000 upper high school students, and 5,000 parents. More than 90% of teachers and school leaders, along with nearly 80% of students and parents, said the duration of compulsory education should be shortened. Respondents cited concerns that the system delays workforce entry and does not meet the demands of the business sector, particularly in filling mid-level skilled positions.
There was also broad consensus that the final year of high school should be restructured to focus on either university preparation or career planning, with many arguing that regular classroom attendance during this period is unnecessary.
In addition, the survey highlighted deficiencies in vocational guidance throughout the compulsory years. A majority of participants said students lack adequate support in making career decisions.
Alternative models such as “2+2” or “3+1” — three years compulsory and one optional — garnered much more support than the current system, which mandates four years of high school. The existing model was favored by only a small fraction of respondents.
Yalçın urged the Ministry of National Education and policymakers to take the findings into account ahead of the 21st National Education Council (Milli Eğitim Şurası), where reform of compulsory education is expected to feature prominently.
“This is a call for a broad and inclusive review of our education system,” he said. “We are sharing this research publicly to encourage participation from all stakeholders in shaping the future of education in Türkiye.”