In the first days of the new year, families with children with special needs were shocked by the Ministry of National Education's technical update to the MEBBİS system as of January 1, 2026.
Unfortunately, the right to education for individuals with special needs over the age of 27 as of January 1, 2026 has been blocked by a digital barrier in the MEBBİS system of the Ministry of National Education.
After the verdict was announced, many families expressed their reactions. In fact, my phone never stopped ringing on the subject. Therefore, it was inevitable to address the issue in my column.
It is very sad that the right to education for individuals with special needs who need lifelong education is restricted by age limitations. We are talking about education, we should not need to emphasize that it is a fundamental right! It is very painful to be forced to express this...
Families of individuals with special needs are anxious about the loss of their children's achievements.
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance had previously made announcements about the rights of individuals with special needs under the name of austerity package and some decisions were shared with the public. Unfortunately, the education rights of individuals with special needs have also been included in the scope of austerity measures!
Let's read this clearly; the age limit in MEBBIS has led to the exclusion of all individuals with special needs over the age of 27 from the education system. For these children, who only attend rehabilitation centers after school age, these centers serve not only for education but also for socialization and contact with the outside world.
What will happen with the age restriction is that adults with special needs who have been living isolated lives in social life will be completely closed to the home environment, and the psychological burden of families' loneliness will increase.
Article 42 of our Constitution is self-evident with the provision ”No one shall be deprived of the right to education and training”.
It is unacceptable to limit the right to education by age. Because the right to education is not a blessing, it is a right.
Equality of opportunity in education is among the fundamental responsibilities of the social state. Age restrictions in education are incompatible with the concept of social state.
The decision needs to be reviewed and support mechanisms for lifelong education for individuals with special needs need to be accessible and regulations need to be improved urgently.