Turkish Education Ministry bans high school students from using social media

Gamze Kolcu – ANKARA

AFP photo

Using and sharing posts on social media during school time without the knowledge of a teacher has been banned in high schools across Turkey.

Due to a change in the regulation on secondary schools, high school students have been barred from using social media platforms without the consent of their teacher, as well as sharing photos and footage from inside school on such platforms. Students who violate this ban will be sent to the disciplinary board of their school. 

The Education Ministry made the changes, which went into effect after being published in the Official Gazette on July 1, as part of revisions to the regulations on absenteeism, the use of social media, transfers between high schools, and student behavior. 

In addition, high school students who molest, grope, or slander school employees, or who provoke or force others to do these actions and share them on social media, will receive temporary suspension from school. 

Other reasons for temporary suspension will include “acting in a way contrary to national values, sentimental values, or public morality, and acting in a way that can cause misunderstanding.” 

If the violation is serious enough to result in the student’s permanent expulsion from the school, they will not be permitted to return to the same school. 

Students who engage in any acts requiring punishment will be taken into rehabilitation with a report prepared by the school’s counselling and research department. 

Meanwhile, students’ transfer between schools, which are currently conducted on a weekly basis, will henceforth be made on a monthly basis. 

In another change, the maximum number of days required for a student to be formally considered an absentee has been reduced to 30 from 45, while students will be allowed to not come to school without a reason for 10 days at most. High school students’ absentee limit with a doctor’s health report will be 60 days.