New school year starts for primary students in Turkey

A total of 223,097 pre-school and 1,200,165 primary school students in Turkey started lessons on Monday. Turkish National Education Ministry applies a program of compliance training for the primary school students a week before the new school season starts across Turkey. General Director of Basic Education Funda Kocabiyik said, "Teachers and parents should not be discomfortable and rush as the first reading and writing skills and other educational attainments will be given during the school term till June, 2014." Kocabiyik told Anadolu Agency that compliance of the students with a good beginning at school, their love for school, development of their abilities would influence whole life-process of them. Noting that the new students would have orientation lessons on Monday till September 13, 2013, Kocabiyik added, "A total of 223,097 students began pre-school education and 1,200,165 primary school students began lessons at first grade. As enrollments continue, these number may change." 2013-2014 school year starts on September 16, 2013 and end on June 13, 2014 nationwide.