The number of schools applying language education focused on English and German will increase

Ministry initiated a pilot study aimed at developing a positive attitude towards learning a new language by making students exposed to the target language more effectively and efficiently. This model, which increased the foreign language class hours and provided German education as a second foreign language alongside English, was first implemented in the 2023-2024 academic year with 5th grades in 32 schools in 26 provinces with the participation of 2,999 students. The model, which has been continued this year in the 6th grades of the same 32 schools, started to be implemented in 299 schools in 81 provinces by expanding the scope of the Multilingual Language Education Model. In line with the demands from students and parents, the Ministry prepared a "Application and Implementation Guide for Schools to be Included in the Multilingual Language Education Model" to increase the number of schools where the model is applied in the 2025-2026 academic year. The applications from schools wishing to implement the model starting from the new academic year were received within the scope of this guide. After the review of the applications by the established commissions, the schools deemed suitable will be notified to the Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Basic Education. After the General Directorate decides on which schools the model will be implemented, the results will be announced by July 18. The Ministry made an update to the Primary School Weekly Lesson Schedule to be valid for the next academic year. Accordingly, the foreign language intensive education, which was previously implemented only at the 5th grade level, was removed from the schedule due to the discontinuation of language teaching in upper grades leading to forgetting what has been learned, causing different class hour applications in schools due to the regulation that "up to 18 hours of foreign language teaching can be optionally carried out," and providing grounds for the use of materials not approved by the Board of Education. In line with the requests for increased foreign language education from students, parents, and teachers for application not only in the 5th grade but also in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, it was decided to implement the "Multilingual Language Education Model" in all grades of middle school. A new "Multilingual Language Education Model Middle School Weekly Lesson Schedule" was created with the decision of the Board of Education for the implementation of the model. Thus, starting from the next year, students in schools implementing this model will receive 14 hours of English lessons in the 5th grade, 8 hours in the 6th grade, 7 hours in the 7th grade, and 5 hours in the 8th grade. As the second foreign language, German lessons will be implemented for 2 hours weekly at all class levels. In addition, normal classes can also be opened in schools where the Multilingual Language Education Model is implemented according to the demands of the parents. Thus, students who do not want to continue their education within the scope of transfers and the model can continue their education in normal classes. The distribution of free foreign language textbooks and educational materials prepared for the model will be carried out by the Ministry to the schools included in the Multilingual Language Education Model. In addition to the resources, activities, and digital content for foreign language education on the Education Informatics Network, the "Diyalekt" and "Diyalekt Kids" English platform prepared by the Ministry and materials prepared by the subject teacher boards can also be used. Except for the designated resources, the use of different resources will not be allowed. Schools or branches included in the model will not be named as "project school/project branch" or "practice school and practice branch," and no fees will be charged from parents.