School adjustment programs begin tomorrow and run through September 11

Turkey’s “School Adjustment Week” begins tomorrow for preschool children, first-graders and students entering the fifth grade. The program will run until September 11, before the first school term officially starts on September 14.

Preschool and first-grade students will take part in the program for five days, while fifth-graders will attend for three days. The Education Ministry’s guidance materials include daily schedules, responsibilities for participants, points requiring attention, and examples of games and activities.

The ministry plans to continue the programs throughout the academic year, with monthly activities for each group. The modules use games and practical experiences, and include learning outside school through cooperation between schools and families.

The programs set different goals for each age group. Preschool activities aim to involve families actively and help children connect what they learn at school with family life and everyday experiences. First-graders will get to know their principal, teachers, staff, school spaces and routines, while developing a sense of belonging, expressing their needs and taking on age-appropriate responsibilities.

For fifth-graders, the program focuses on the new middle-school structure, subject teachers, learning environments and ways to seek help. It also aims to support healthy communication with teachers and peers, strengthen belonging, and help students manage lessons and responsibilities more regularly. Under a directive sent from the Presidential General Secretariat to public institutions, one parent working in the public sector may be granted administrative leave for up to three hours, matching the student’s school hours, if the parent requests it.