Education of Disadvantaged Children in OIC:
The Key to Escape from Poverty
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individuals special needs education institutions are also established. The Ministry of National
Education opens up special education programmes and institutions for preschool, primary school,
junior high school, vocational and technical high school and these programmes and institutions
are established under the MoNE Special Education and Guidance Services General Directorate.
71,542 students are provided education in 1557 institutions and schools affiliated with the
General Directorate of Special Education and Guidance Services. Within the scope of inclusive
education services, 40,887 students receive education in 11,088 special education classrooms.
Through inclusive education services;
 In pre-school, 1721 students receive education in 1699 classrooms,
 In primary school, in 72,813 classrooms 79,080 students receive education,
 In lower secondary education, in 93,008 classrooms 105,344 students receive education,
 In upper secondary education, in 13,937 classrooms 33,726 students receive education.
Students who are in need of special education and who cannot attend school due to health
problems during the compulsory education period are offered home education services or in the
hospitals for the students who are in treatment in health institutions due to their health problems.
Within this scope, 7467 students are provided home education services and 958 students are
provided hospital classroom education.
Pre-school education for children in need of special education between 37-66 months is
compulsory in Turkey and it is essential that children continue their education in the same class
as their peers through inclusive education in primary education institutions. However, for
children between the ages of 37 and 66 months who cannot continue their education through
inclusive education special education kindergartens and for children between 48-66 months
special education kindergartens within the schools and institutions can be established. In
addition, special education kindergarten and special education centres (schools) can be opened
for children 0-36 months old,
The Ministry of National Education (MoNE) also provides non-formal education services in order
to equip individuals with special education needs with knowledge and skills in vocational, social
or cultural fields. Non-formal education courses and trainings are provided in the scope of lifelong
learning.
In addition, support services are provided in private institutions through education programs
prepared by the Ministry in accordance with disability groups, grades and obstacle characteristics
and individual development competencies in the private education institutions which continue to
operate under the Ministry of Education, General Directorate of Private Education Institutions.
According to the Law No. 5378, a certain proportion of the special education services is covered
by the budget allocated from the Ministry's budget.
Free transportation and catering services are provided to encourage the pupils with special
education needs to facilitate their access to education institutions and to provide equal
opportunities in education.