Multigrade schooling in Turkey: An overview

This paper reviews multigrade schooling in Turkey, with an emphasis on its status in the education system, as well as the curriculum practices, teacher training and problems associated with it. It is viewed by the State as an “inevitable” practice that arises through limited number of pupils and classrooms in small and scattered settlement areas where population density is low and is perceived as a system that needs to be abolished. The review concludes, by contrast, that multigrade schooling is advantageous for Turkey as it provides access to at least 5 years of education for thousands of children.