1. AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

The Ministry of National Education was founded on 17 March 1857 during the Ottoman period under the name of the Ministry of Public Instruction and was under the responsibility of a Minister in the Council of Ministers. This was the first education organization at the level of Ministry. The first Minister of Instruction was Abdurrahman Sami Pasha (1857-1861) and the first undersecretary Hayrullah Efendi, a scientist.

In 1869, the Regulations on Public Instruction created Supreme Council of Instruction in the central organization, which was headed by the Minister of Instruction and which consisted of two departments, scientific and administrative. There was also a council of instruction in each province, which was headed by the provincial director of instruction and which acted as the branch office and executive organ of the Supreme Council at the level of province.

In 1872, the Supreme Council of Instruction was restructured and turned into a unified body, abolishing its two-department structure. In 1879, the central organization of the Ministry was reorganized in the form of departments according to the levels of education and this has remained basically the same in the republican period. The new organization was as follows:

1. Higher Education
2. Secondary Education
3. Primary Education
4. Copyrights and Translation
5. Publications

In the period of Constitutional Monarchy, the Ministry of Instruction was restructured in the form of departments as follows, with a department of Higher Education and an Inspectorate of Libraries being established after 1910:

1. Secondary Education
2. Primary Education
3. Private Schools
4. Secretariat
5. Accounting
6. Registry
7. Statistics
8. Supplies
9. Documents

During the years of the Independence War, there were two ministries of education: in Ankara, the Ministry of Instruction of the Government of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and in Istanbul, the Ministry of Instruction of the Ottoman Government. After the opening of the TBMM on 23 April 1920, the “Ministry of Instruction” was organized as one of the eleven ministries of the government under Act No. 3, which was passed on May 2, 1920.

In 1920, the Ministry of Instruction consisted of five units: 1. Program Committee, 2. Department of Primary Education, 3. Department of Secondary Education, 4. Office of Turkish Antiquities, 5. Registry and Statistics Office. In 1923, the Ministry in Istanbul was closed while the one in Ankara was enlarged and re-organized as 11 units. The field organization was also organized as education directorates and education offices.

In the Republic, the organization of MONE enlarged every day and reorganized with the Law No: 2287 issued in 1933. Later on, in 1935, it was extended more with new units with Law No: 2773 and in 1937 with Law No: 3225 and in 1941 with Law No: 4113 and turned out to two undersecretariats. With the establishment of Undersecretariat of Culture in 1965, the Ministry has begun to be ruled by three undersecretaries. In 1980, new arrangements were made. In 1983, with the treatment of education services together with youth and sports services as a whole, Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports had emerged. However, through Decree-By-Law No: 356 dated March 2, 1989, youth and sports services were taken out of national education services and Law No: 3797 and 4359 have achieved their present form.

The Ministry of National Education carried on its activities under the names of:

• The “Ministry of Instruction” from 1923 to 27 December 1935,
• The “Ministry of Culture” from 28 December 1935 to 21 September 1941,
• The “Ministry of Instruction” from 22 September 1941 to 9 October 1946,
• The “Ministry of National Education” after 10 October 1946,
• The “Ministry of Instruction” after 1950, and
• The “Ministry of National Education” after 27 May 1960.
• The “Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports” after 1983.
• The “Ministry of National Education” after 1989

1. AKYÜZ, Yahya, Türk Eğitim Tarihi, Ankara. 1999
2. SORGUÇ, Bahir, Cumhuriyetin 70. Yılında Milli Eğitim, Ankara. 1995
3. Cumhuriyetten Günümüze Sayısal Gelişmeler, MONE, APK.
4. Law No: 3797 on Organization and Duties of Ministry of National Education

 

2. ORGANIZATION OF THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

The Ministry of National Education (MONE) consists of the following in accordance with Law on Organization and Duties of Ministry of National Education No: 3797.

1. The Central Organization
2. Provincial Organization
3. Overseas Organization
4. Affiliated Institutions

The provincial organization of the Ministry of National Education has been active in 81 provinces and 922 districts. MONE has 39 representations in foreign countries, 21 of them by education counselors and 18 by education attachés. MONE undertakes the education and training works of students (undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D.) abroad through these representations. Affiliated institutions of MONE are Higher Education Loans and Boarding Administration and National Education Academy.

2.1. THE CENTRAL ORGANIZATION

The central organization of the Ministry comprises of the Minister’s Office, Board of Education and Discipline, main service units, advisory and supervisory units and auxiliary units as well as the institutions established by the approval of the Minister namely Vocational and Technical Education Research and Development Center (METARGEM) and Project Coordination Board.

1. Minister’s Office

1. Minister
2. Undersecretary
3. Deputy Undersecretaries

The Minister is assigned to undertake the services of the Ministry in accordance with the legislation, overall policy of the government, development plans and annual programs and to cooperate and provide coordination with other ministries and organizations on issues covered by the Ministry.

The Undersecretary is the assistant of the Minister and assigned to undertake the services of the Ministry in accordance with the goals and policies of the Ministry, development plans, annual programs and provisions of the legislation in the name of the Minister.

Seven Deputy Undersecretaries shall be assigned to assist the Undersecretary in undertaking of the services.

2. Board of Education and Discipline

Board of Education and Discipline is the decision-making institution directly under the Minister. It assists the Minister in nearly all issues related to education, provides opinion, undertakes direct and indirect research regarding problems of education.

3. Main Service Units

These are the units providing education and training and producing administrative decisions within the central organization. The main service units organized as 15 general directorates and 1 presidency are:

1. General Directorate for Pre-Primary Education
2. General Directorate for Primary Education
3. General Directorate for Secondary Education
4. General Directorate for Technical Education for Boys
5. General Directorate for Technical Education for Girls
6. General Directorate for Trade and Tourism Education
7. General Directorate for Teacher Training and Education
8. General Directorate for Religious Education
9. General Directorate for Apprenticeship and Non-Formal Education
10. General Directorate for Higher Education
11. General Directorate for Foreign Relations
12. General Directorate for Education and Training Abroad
13. General Directorate for Private Education Institutions
14. General Directorate for Special Education Guidance and Advisory Services
15. General Directorate for Educational Technologies
16. Department of Physical Education, Sports and Scouting at Schools

4. Advisory and Supervisory Units

1. Board of Inspectors
2. Research, Planning and Coordination Council (APK)
3. Legal Advisor’s Office
4. Ministry Advisor’s Office
5. Press and Public Relations Advisor’s Office

5. Auxiliary Units

1. General Directorate for Personnel
2. Department of Publications
3. Department of On-the-Job Training
4. Department of Administrative and Financial Affairs
5. Department of Teacher Services and Social Affairs
6. Department of Operations
7. Department of Investments and Facilities
8. Department of Educational Materials and Equipment
9. Department of Health Affairs
10. Department of Secondary Education Scholarships and Lodging
11. Education Research and Development Department
12. Department of the Fund for the Development and Extension of Apprenticeship, Vocational and Technical Education
13. Defense Secretariat
14. Chief of Staff

6. Permanent Boards

The establishment and working methods of these Boards are determined through separate regulations.

1. National Education Council
2. Board of Managers
3. Apprenticeship and Vocational Education Board
4. Student Disciplinary Boards
5. Specialized Boards

ORGANIZATION OF THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

©2002 Republic Of Turkey
Ministry Of National Education
All Rights Reserved.