Halil İbrahim Topçu, MEB General Director of Secondary Education, answered questions about the changes in the regulations regulating attendance and class passing conditions at the high school level.
Explaining that they developed policies to increase the quality of education under the instructions of the Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin and made legislative arrangements accordingly, Topçu stated that changes were made in this regard, especially in the newly published Secondary Education Institutions Regulation.
“It will be implemented in 9th grades this year”
In this context, Topçu stated that they are reconsidering the regulation of passing grades so that students’ educational processes can achieve the desired goals, and gave the following information:
“In practice in the current system, our students who had an average of 50 at the end of the year were passing grades with an average of more than one course. This situation led to our students moving to the next grade without gaining the basic competencies of many main courses, especially some of the basic courses. With the new regulation, our students will now have an average of 50 at the end of the year, but at least He will be able to pass the class directly with only one weak subject.
In the previous practice, the responsible class could pass up to 3 courses regardless of the year-end average. Now we have made changes to pass the class responsibly. The year-end average will still be 50, and the student will be able to pass the class by being responsible for a maximum of 3 courses. If the student is weak in 4 courses, he/she will repeat the class. This regulation will be implemented gradually. Therefore, it will only be applied to 9th graders this year. “This year, 10th, 11th and 12th graders will graduate according to the provisions of the previous regulation until they graduate.”
Precautions against unexcused absences
Reminding that they have made some arrangements in the sections of the directive regarding absenteeism in order to increase the quality of education and ensure that students continue in a safe, controlled environment, Topçu said, “In the current legislation, there was a right to absenteeism for a total of 30 days, 10 days without excuse and 20 days with excuse, and this still continues. But without excuse.” “As a precaution against absenteeism, we have introduced a requirement for students with unexcused absences to do an additional hour of social responsibility duty for each day of absence.” said.
“The aim is to intervene immediately”
Topçu stated that the regulation obliges high schools to establish a “prevention, intervention and guidance commission” and noted the following regarding the work of these commissions:
“Commissions will be established compulsorily in schools for the first time in this academic year. Our aim in establishing the commissions is to provide correct guidance to students and to intervene in a timely manner as it becomes more difficult to pass a grade. Starting from this year, the commissions will evaluate the situation of students regarding learning losses after each written exam.” will analyze, prepare reports and inform the administration. Will make interventions when necessary. Parents will be informed and will carry out studies to take the necessary measures to prevent the student from repeating a grade. These commissions will also take precautions for our students who are at risk of absenteeism and repeating a grade and will ensure that parent-student-administration “He will act within his trilogy.”
When asked what the precautions would be if some social risks were detected in the student, Topçu said, “The commission will be the local observer and follower of this situation. It will take administrative measures as required by the situation.” he said.
“Our students should not expect amnesty”
Topçu stated that the amnesties issued by the ministry every year in a row, especially regarding the preparation process of 12th graders for higher education, have in a sense become a tradition and an expectation.
Therefore, pointing out that students expect amnesty every year, Topçu continued as follows:
“The issues we mentioned in the transition to an open high school are also relevant here. It is important for the student to be in the school environment and under the supervision and supervision of our teachers. Separating certain courses and excluding other courses is a harmful situation in terms of the integrity of education. After taking office, our Minister aimed to educate the student in a holistic education system. “He has repeatedly explained that this practice is not a very pedagogical and meaningful practice. Therefore, our students this year should not expect such amnesty in order not to be victimized in this sense.”