Non-Formal Education Databases
e-Yaygın System
e-Yaygın System is an automation system that allows public education centers and Advanced Technical School for Girls and all institutions and organizations with which they cooperate to follow up on courses, seminars and all other activities. Its software was developed by the Directorate General ofInformation Technologies and its management is provided by the Directorate General of Lifelong Learning. In 2023, the arrangements made in the system are as follows:
- The option to log in using e-Devlet credentials has been enabled.
- Access to course completion and participation certificates has been made available through the e-Devlet portal
- Applications for qualified instructor to take on duties have started to be submitted through the online application platform.
- Within this scope, the annual course hour quota is determined based on factors such as the province’s population, demographic structure, geographical characteristics, labor market needs, institutional capacity, and audit results, and is defined to the provincial directorates of national education through the e-Yaygın system in four quarterly periods.
- The integration of the Public Education Centers Information Network (HEMBA) and the e-Yaygın System was completed.
hrough the portal, users can view information about the location and schedule of lifelong learning courses online and can make preliminary registrations for courses. They can also benefit from sections on employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, the business world, occupational standards, İŞKUR services, guidance, and career counseling. As of 01.01.2018, the portal has been made available at https://hbogm.meb. gov.tr/portal/
Public Education Centers Information Network
The HEMBA Platform was established to provide citizens with access to lifelong learning opportunities through distance learning technologies, independently of time and place, to support face-to-face education, and to promote equal opportunities in education. Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye over the age of 15 can benefit from the HEMBA electronic platform via the e-Government (e-Devlet) portal. A certificate of participation is issued to individuals who successfully complete their training. The HEMBA platform is also compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. Currently, 119 distance learning courses based on non-formal education programs have been made available on HEMBA, and as of April 2025, a total of 2,548,769 learners have participated in these courses. Efforts to update, enrich, and expand the content of distance learning course programs continue through the HEMBA platform.
Validity of non-formal and informal learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) refers to the learning outcomes that individuals have acquired through formal, lifelong and/or informal learning. In addition to schools, knowledge and skills acquired outside of formal education in work and daily life are also included among these learning outcomes. This system provides for the formal recognition and certification of an individual’s knowledge, skills and experience, regardless of where and how they were acquired.
SLT offers numerous benefits to individuals and employers. For individuals, it increases vocational development and mobility in the labor market, prevents repetition of training and the loss of time, enables early graduation, reduces the cost of learning, encourages lifelong learning, and increases motivation and self confidence. For employers, it contributes to addressing the skill and/or qualification gaps in the workplace, reduces the amount of time employees spend outside the workplace for training purposes and thus contributes to more efficient use of resources.
According to the Vocational Education Law, journeymen, masters, and secondary education graduates who participate in remedial or complementary education programs—whose scope, conditions, and duration are determined by the Ministry—and successfully pass the exams held at the end of these programs are awarded a diploma in their respective vocational field. Vocational qualifications related to prior learning are determined through examinations based on occupational standards and levels. The procedures and principles for the recognition and equivalency of prior learning are regulated by a regulation issued by the Ministry.
In this context, the Directive on the Procedures and Principles Regarding the Recognition, Equivalency, and Assessment of Prior Learning has been put into effect under the Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education (DGVET). Within the scope of this directive, theoretical and practical exams have started to be implemented in Vocational Education Centers. Journeyman and mastership exams are conducted in February, April, June, August, October, and December each year, at schools/institutions or workplaces designated by the provincial directorates of national education in central and district locations.
In addition, Article 73 of the Regulation on Lifelong Learning Institutions published in 2018, titled Measurement and Evaluation of Literacy Competencies, is as follows:
- The general provisions regarding examinations shall not be applied in the direct measurement and certification of the competencies of the persons who will receive “Literacy Certificate” through the “Adult Literacy Level I Placement Exam” and “Adult Literacy Level II Placement Exam” and “Adult Level II Education Success Certificate”.
- Upon the application of individuals, a written / oral / practical exam is held by a commission of three members, chaired by the institution’s principal and including at least one classroom teacher, in order to assess their knowledge and skills in accordance with the “Adult Literacy Teaching” and “Basic Education Program (I and II Level)”.
- Individuals who successfully complete the Adult Literacy Level I Education Course or pass the Adult Literacy Level II Placement Exam are awarded a Literacy Certificate.
- Individuals who successfully complete the Adult Literacy Level II Education Course or pass the Adult Literacy Level II Placement Exam are awarded an Adult Level II Education Achievement Certificate.
- In the direct assessment of literacy competencies, no conditions regarding the number of candidates or time limitations are required.
The certification of prior learning is carried out under the directive through theoretical journeyman/ mastership exams conducted as e-exams and practical exams recorded via camera. An amendment was made on 08.04.2019 to the Directive on the Procedures and Principles Regarding the Recognition, Equivalency, and Assessment of Prior Learning issued by the Ministry of National Education. With this amendment, journeyman/ mastership exams, which were held in 3 periods a year, were increased to 6 periods. In addition, journeyman/mastership theoretical exams have been made in the form of e-Exam application in all fields / branches where education is provided as of December 2019. With this regulation, it has been ensured that employees who need a journeyman / master’s certificate can access the document in a shorter time.
In the third paragraph of Article 73 titled Measurement and Evaluation of Literacy Competencies of the Regulation on Lifelong Learning Institutions regarding the evaluation of literacy competencies, “Individuals who successfully complete the Adult Level I Literacy Training Course or in the Adult Literacy Level I Placement Examination are given a Literacy Certificate.” and in the fourth paragraph, “Individuals who successfully complete the Adult Level II Literacy Training Course or in the Adult Literacy Level II Level Placement Examination are given a Certificate of Achievement in Adult Level II Education.” Through these provisions, the processes and procedures regarding the assessment of literacy competencies within the scope of RPL have been clearly defined.
In addition, information regarding the legal basis, definitions, outcomes, durations, EQF (European Qualifications Framework), TQF (Turkish Qualifications Framework) levels and the corresponding occupational f ields under ISCO 08 for the course completion certificates awarded to individuals who successfully complete courses offered by lifelong learning institutions has started to be published by being integrated into the Turkish Qualifications Database.
In Türkiye, activities related to validation of non-formal and informal learning are also carried out in the field of validation of vocational qualifications. VQA plays an important role in this field. VQA develops national occupational standards, defines the outcomes and assessment-evaluation methods related to vocational qualifications in accordance with the standards and ensures the assessment, evaluation and certification of qualifications. For the certification of vocational qualifications, VQA authorizes organizations accredited under the ISO 17024 International Standard for Personnel Certification to conduct examinations and certifications.
Individuals who want to certify their vocational qualifications within the scope of non-formal and informal learning apply to the examination and certification bodies authorized by the VQA and are subjected to theoretical and practical exams organized by these organizations. Those who are successful in these exams are awarded a Vocational Qualification Certificate. Up-to-date data on national occupational standards developed by the VQA, the professions certified, and the examination and certification bodies can be accessed from the VQA WEB Portal and Statistics page.