Turkey revises age standard to start primary school

By Yildiz Aktas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey revised the age standard for children to start the primary school with a circular published in the Official Gazette on Friday.

Under the new regulation, it is compulsory for children to be 69-months-old by September to start the primary education, raised from 66 months.

It also requires children in the 6-14 age group to attend a school to receive compulsory primary education.

In Turkey, the compulsory education is 12 years, divided into primary and secondary school. The school term starts in September, running through June.

In May, Education Minister Ziya Selcuk said the 13-week summer break for schools will be shortened to 11 weeks to improve efficiency for the next term. The students will take one-week break in April and November each.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic