The International Schools In Istanbul, Turkey’s education system is a government-supervised system designed to ensure the country’s skilled workforce.
Education is one of the top priorities for national development and accounts for 22% of the state budget. Primary education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 14, and the enrollment rate for this age group was nearly 100 percent in 2001.
In Turkey, education is compulsory for all children from primary to secondary school. Primary and secondary education in public schools is free for all children, including Turkish nationals and foreigners, but education levels vary across Turkey.
Families new to Turkey can easily find multilingual schools that provide a very successful education for their children.
Even if your children do not speak Turkish, they can learn in schools that offer instruction in their native language. The international schools teach children in Turkish and other languages at the same time, without any adaptation problems.
The international schools in Istanbul cater to different foreign nationalities. They offer a variety of international curricula and foreign language classes.
Most international schools in Istanbul offer their students the opportunity to learn Turkish but also organize excursions and cultural activities to help children integrate into Turkish culture and society.
School fees in Istanbul are notoriously exorbitant, and parents will find that there are numerous other costs on top of these fees, such as school uniforms, textbooks, extracurricular activities, and transportation. Parents must therefore plan their budget carefully.
What are the advantages of international schools in Istanbul?
- There are different curricula for each school that is recognized worldwide. It is a similar system to other international schools around the world.
- Provides a global and multicultural environment. There are many students from different countries.
- Some schools offer both local and international recognition. Parents have the opportunity to choose the curriculum for their children.
- The number of students in a class is small, so it is possible to focus on each individual child.
- Students can enjoy quality facilities and are motivated by extracurricular activities.
What are the best international schools in Istanbul?
- Ihsan International School: Ihsan International School is a private school accredited by the Department of Education in the United States of America, California. The school is located in Esenyurt. It is a good choice because of its multicultural environment, digital learning, active learning, well-equipped campus, reasonable fees, and flexible payment structure.
- The British International School: The British International School Istanbul enjoys a worldwide reputation for the education it provides. Located in the Zekeriyakoey district of Maslak, the institution offers a modified English curriculum. In addition to English, classes are taught in German, Spanish, and French. The available curricula include a modified English National Curriculum, IGCSE, and IB Diploma Program. BISI is an academic school that sends its graduates to universities all over the world, especially in the UK and the USA.
- Istanbul International Community School: This school teaches only foreign nationals. Only English is used as the language of instruction. IICS has two locations. One in Rumeli Hisar, near the Bosphorus, for children ages 3 to 9.
- The second Marmara Campus in Büyükçekmece is for children aged 3 to 18.
- Alfayez International School: the Alfayez International School is located in Bağcılar and was established in July 2015. It is the first Arabic school accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Education in Istanbul Turkey. This school has students from over 24 different countries. English and Arabic are the languages of instruction (Cambridge program), with classes ranging from kindergarten to twelfth grade, in addition to the levels of the Cambridge program, which include Elementary, Secondary 1, IGCSE, AS Level & A Level.
- Safir International School: Safir College is located in Ortaköy. Safir College students enjoy modern facilities such as science labs, computer labs, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, sports facilities, a library, and well-equipped classrooms with smartboards.
This is the most famous school among Arab citizens. Safir International School’s international program is based on American standards. Classes on Islamic subjects are taught in both Arabic and English. Students are also taught in three languages: English, Arabic, and Turkish. In addition to teaching the core subjects of English, math, science, and social studies, the school teaches the following subjects: the Holy Quran, Islamic studies, Islamic history, Arabic, Turkish, art, music, physical education, and computers & IT.
How are the international schools in Istanbul accredited?
There are two global accreditations that are regularly used in Turkey, the International Baccalaureate accreditation (IB) and the Council of International Schools accreditation (CIS).
- International Baccalaureate (IB): The International Baccalaureate program is based on a unique teaching and learning model. The goal of the program is:
- To encourage independent thinking in children.
- To teach children to take personal responsibility.
- To teach children another language to increase cultural awareness.
- To help children earn certificates for world-class schools.
The IB accreditation model includes four programs. These programs allow students to discover and build their own cultural identity.
- Elementary Years Program: children ages 3 to 12.
- Middle Years Program: students ages 11 to 16.
- Diploma and Vocational Program: students aged 16 to 19.
- Council of International Schools (CIS): CIS is the world’s largest membership organization for international schools. Members are dedicated to shaping international education. The goal of CIS is to provide children with the knowledge and skills they need to lead their lives as global citizens and achieve high-quality international education standards. CIS is another accreditation that promotes second language learning. There are 733 CIS schools around the world. This makes the transition even easier for students with globally mobile parents.