Ministry of National Education and UNICEF Reach More Than 30,000 Students and Teachers through Vocational Education for Students with Special Education Needs

ANKARA, 21 May 2026 – The Ministry of National Education (MoNE) and UNICEF Türkiye today introduced key achievements of the “Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Special Education Programme.” Launched in March 2023, the initiative aims to strengthen vocational education opportunities for adolescents with special education needs and support their transition from learning to employment.

To date, the programme has reached all 26,000 students enrolled in secondary-level vocational special education schools and special education practice schools, as well as 5,000 teachers, contributing to more inclusive and responsive vocational education opportunities for children with special education needs.

The programme supports efforts to align vocational special education with evolving employers’ demands through updated teaching programmes, improved atelier standards and supplementary learning materials tailored to diverse learning needs. More than 5,000 vocational teachers have also participated in specialized training sessions aimed at strengthening inclusive teaching practices.

A key component of the initiative is the establishment of seven Vocational Special Education Centres of Excellence (MÖZEM) across Türkiye’s seven regions. The centres aim to strengthen collaboration between schools and the private sector, promote workplace-based learning opportunities and support adolescents with disabilities in developing job-specific skills.

The programme has also introduced an inclusive on-the-job training model and supported the development of six new vocational qualifications aligned with the Turkish Qualifications Framework, helping strengthen pathways from education to employment.

Yusuf Tekin, the Minister of National Education, stated: “In our understanding of education, we believe that every child has unique potential and a valuable contribution to make to society. The fundamental aim of our education processes is to recognize and nurture this potential, and to enable children to build their own paths with confidence. In special education, this approach seeks to prepare our children for life as individuals who can trust in their own abilities, participate in production processes and take an active and confident role in society.”

Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Representative to Türkiye, said: “Technical and vocational education can play an important role in helping adolescents with disabilities develop skills, build confidence and participate in social and economic life. I have first had witnessed how these programmes unlock individuals’ diverse abilities, allowing them to become highly valuable contributors across multiple industries. Through this programme, we are supporting efforts to help ensure that young people with special education needs can access learning and employment opportunities that enable them to reach their full potential.”

The showcase event highlighted progress made in strengthening institutional capacity and promoting more inclusive approaches within the vocational special education system through continued cooperation between MoNE, UNICEF and partners.