After our visit to the University we headed across town to a private high school. The school was started in 1999 and the new campus buildings were donated (yes donated by a business) in 2004. We met the principal who served us tea and began his presentation with a video. It started off with Star Wars-like music and dramatic flashing photos of the school and students. It then provided more details on the vision of the school. Its main focuses are on Science, sports and culture - working to create well rounded students. (There are two types of high schools generally: Science focus and "Anatolian school" - social science focus). There are 650 students at the school and 200 live in dormatories on campus. It is a boys only campus with all male teachers, but there is also a girls campus with the same curriculum.
Teachers are expected to serve as role models for the students, not only teaching their subjects, but advising them on career choices, and helping them develop strong study skills and other life skills. Students are encouraged to participate in clubs, and to provide service to others. One club recently raised enough money to provide 48 cataract surgeries in Africa. Native English speakers teach English and German is offered as a third language. The Ministry of Education requires all high schools to offer either English, German, or French (other languages can be offered, but one of these must be offered). The school has more classroom hours than the minimum specified by the government.
The cost of the school is $6000/yr for tuition (which is pretty high considering the per capita GDP is $10,000). Students from the Kurdish region are offered special scholarships.
There are althletic faciliteis for 300 students to be active at one time. There is even a paintball field!
Typical classroom
Lockers do not lock
Dormatories
Athletic fields
teachers lounge
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