Secondary education in Turkey is compulsory and free of charge in public schools. Children in Turkey go to school from 6-7 years old, and from 14-15 years old, secondary school begins.
The academic year usually starts in mid-September and ends in June.
There are the following types of schools in Turkey:
•Public secondary schools (Normal Liseler or Duz Liseler). Schoolchildren who successfully completed primary school study here. Normal Liseler graduates take the National University Entrance Examination (ÖSS) and can enter higher education institutions. Graduates are awarded Lise Diploması.
• Vocational schools (Meslek Liseleri). School graduates can automatically enter Meslek Yüksek Okulları Higher Vocational Educational Institutions - two-year vocational colleges or pass the National Entrance Examination (ÖSS) and enter the university.
•Anatolian secondary schools (Anadolu Liseleri). Includes 1 year of advanced English followed by 3 years of regular high school education with additional hours of English. Math and science classes at Anadolu Liseleri are sometimes taught in English, and in some schools in German or French.
• Higher secondary schools (Super Liseler).
The difference between these and regular high schools is one extra year of English. And they differ from Anatolian high schools in that math and science are always taught in Turkish, and in general, fewer hours are spent in English.
• School of Natural Sciences (Fen Liseleri).These are special public schools with a bias in the field of science for talented students. Fen Liseleri prepare students for higher education in the fields of science, technology and medicine. There are also Anatolian Higher Schools of Science (Anadolu Fen Liseleri), where mathematics and science are sometimes taught in English.
•Private secondary schools (Ozel Liseler). Most private schools charge high tuition fees, with average prices ranging from 2,500 euros per year to 5,000 euros.
Ozel Liseler accept foreigners and put forward their own requirements for admission. Usually you need to know English. But you should carefully read the websites of schools, as some of them are bilingual, that is, knowledge of Turkish is required.