Turkish private schools sold along ‘with enrolled students’

As the 2024-2025 academic year begins in Turkey, private schools have been sold and rented along with their “enrolled students” on the real estate websites.

Monday September 02 2024 12:47 pm

Duvar English

A property sales website investigated by daily BirGün has been offering private schools in Turkey for sale and rent “together with their enrolled students.”

As of Sept. 2 , the “adaptation week” started for students who enrolled in school for the first time, while the 2024-2025 school year will start on Sept. 9.

However, the increasing number of private schools under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government took the privatization of education one step further and started “guaranteed sales” with their students.

In the advertisement for a school in Istanbul’s Arnavutköy district, the current owner stated that “the school will be transferred with its students.” The ad reads, “Licensed private school building, fully furnished and ready for use with its current students.”

Another listing for a school in Istanbul's Esenyurt district highlighted that it was "three minutes away from the metrobus," aiming to make it more attractive to potential buyers.

One advertisement for a school in Istanbul’s Tarabya neighborhood stated that the school would be transferred due to “the owner's plan to change sectors.”

The listing noted, “The school, located on a 2500 m² plot, has a total student capacity of 552. It is currently operating as a high school, but can be converted to a middle school if desired, as the operating license allows for this."

In the advert of a school in the capital Ankara’s Çankaya district, the listing stated that it has been currently active with 200 students, yet “it can have a capacity of 250 students if it is converted into a primary school.”

Another advertisement for a school in Ankara mentioned that the school has been currently enrolling students and was "licensed as both a middle school and a science high school."

Apart from schools, rehabilitation centers and training courses in different provinces have been in a similar situation. Some adverts note that some courses affiliated to the Education Ministry have also been sold.