The Project Schools Debate: An Assessment of the Parties’ Claims

Introduction
Following the decision of the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) involving new appointments to surplus posts in project schools, secondary school students staged protests across the country, above all in Istanbul. Although MoNE stated that the new appointments were made under the authority of the MoNE Regulation on Educational Institutions Implementing Special Programmes and Projects, published in Official Gazette No. 29818 of 01.09.2016, students and parents argue that merit and the points system were disregarded in the new appointments and that appointments open to political influence were made.

This model, which forms the Turkish prototype of school-based management, was limited to some İmam Hatip secondary schools in the 2016-2017 academic year; subsequently, by letter no. E.10.590.507 of 30.05.2018 of the MoNE General Directorate of Secondary Education, a total of 569 schools with the status of Science High School, Social Sciences High School, Anatolian High School and Vocational High School were brought within the scope of project schools. Examining and analysing project schools, which are becoming increasingly widespread and established in our country, as a model is a current need.