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Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin said Turkey was the only OECD member to improve its average scores across all PISA subjects, speaking after a provincial education review meeting in Hakkari. Citing results he said the OECD released on September 8, he pointed to gains in mathematics, reading and science as evidence of progress in the country's education system.

Tekin said Hakkari's teaching workforce had grown from 1,527 in 2002 to 4,176, while student numbers increased from 58,457 to about 61,000. He said 2,139 classrooms had been added to the 1,148 available in 2002, representing investment of 18 billion lira. The province also now has three science and arts centers, compared with none in 2002, alongside expanded provision of school gyms, laboratories and libraries.

The minister also highlighted the Century of Turkey Education Model, saying the curriculum reform launched in early 2024 aimed to combine academic achievement with national and social values. He said teaching across subjects was designed to promote solidarity, justice, human rights, democracy and compassion, while preparing pupils to preserve the country's shared values.

Key Takeaways

• Tekin said Turkey improved its average scores in mathematics, reading and science.
• Hakkari's teacher numbers rose from 1,527 in 2002 to 4,176, he said.
• The minister said curriculum reforms combine academic goals with shared values.