Reading comprehension level of Turk

Reading comprehension level of Turkish students was found to be under international standards in
examinations carried out in international arenas such as the PIRLS (MEB, 2003). Because of this
academic failure of Turkish students in international examinations, the Turkish Education System
has been revised and the elementary and high school curricula have been renewed under the light of
international educational progresses in order to develop students’ academic skills such as writing
and reading. Thus, the Ministry of National Education, known as MEB developed a new elementary
curriculum in order to educate students to make them gain necessary language skills in courses such
as Turkish, social sciences, foreign languages, etc. This new elementary curriculum especially
focused on the development of students’ writing and reading skills in an integrated manner to make
students individuals who both read and write in their daily lives.