Content tagged with guest students

Uncertainty continues over the status of guest students at Armenian schools. The 2026–2027 academic year began on Monday, September 14, but many Armenian families living in Istanbul have been unable to enroll their children in Armenian schools. An Armenian mother who has lived in Istanbul for 20 years spoke to Agos about the difficulties facing these families. The mother, H.K., told our newspaper that if the problem is not resolved, they will return to Armenia.

Just before schools were due to reopen, we learned that inspectors affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MEB) had once again visited Armenian schools, and that they had specifically requested information from school administrators about students from Armenia, including information going back to previous years. Following at least two inspections, administrators at some Armenian schools have also begun to feel anxious about how they should proceed and are now unsure what to do about students from Armenia who come to enroll for the new school year. According to information we have received, they are telling Armenian families who come to enroll their children that they cannot register them.

Following Agos’ report that students from Armenia in Turkey would no longer be able to attend Armenian schools, the Minister of National Education declared that “there is no new regulation.” While the Minister said the current system would continue, Musa Melih Demirbaşçı, General Coordinator of MAZLUMDER, which is an NGO working on violations of the educational rights of migrant and minority students, pointed to the need for a legal change rather than a verbal statement as the solution.

The revelation that inspectors from the Ministry of National Education told school principals that the registrations of students from Armenia who hold guest-student status should be transferred to state or private schools has caused concern among Armenian families. A.H., from Armenia, who spoke to Agos, wants the current practice to continue.

Following our report on the inspection of students from Armenia studying at Armenian schools, AKP MP Sevan Sıvacıoğlu spoke with Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin. According to Sıvacıoğlu’s statement, the message conveyed was that “there is no new regulation regarding guest students studying at Armenian community schools, and that schools are continuing their educational activities in accordance with the existing regulation.”