Sedat Olmez
Our School: A Hub for Excellence in Social Sciences
Located in the heart of Istanbul, our school is one of the most prestigious social sciences high schools in the city. We take pride in our students’ academic achievements, with nearly all of them excelling in the national university entrance exam and securing places at top universities in Turkey.
Our institution was originally a Teacher Training High School until its status was changed by the Ministry of Education in July 2014, transforming it into a Social Sciences High School. Students undergo a five-year educational program, starting with a preparatory year, where they receive 20 hours of English and 4 hours of German instruction. Currently, we have 450 students and 40 teachers, fostering a dynamic learning environment.
Academic Focus & Future Goals
Our curriculum emphasizes foreign languages, mathematics, literature, philosophy, and psychology, preparing students for diverse careers, including journalism and media. Many students are eager to participate in innovative projects that align with their future aspirations.
We are in the process of becoming an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, further enriching our academic framework. Our school is well-equipped with a state-of-the-art ICT lab and a Future Classroom Lab, where students dedicate four hours per week to developing 21st-century ICT skills.
Fostering Democratic Participation
We strongly emphasize democratic engagement and global awareness. To nurture these values, we organize debates and Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, encouraging students to discuss global challenges and express their ideas freely.
Erasmus+ and International Projects
Our school has successfully completed two Erasmus+ projects:
WEB TV Streaming – exploring digital broadcasting
Digital ºìÌÒÊÓƵing – enhancing education through technology
Currently, we are participating in a new Erasmus+ project on Climate Change with five international partners. In addition, we previously implemented an ICT project sponsored by European Schoolnet, demonstrating our commitment to technological advancement in education.
Our faculty is highly skilled in digital technologies and actively contributes to these projects. The school’s project coordinator, an English teacher, is currently enrolled in a 12-week course on 3D modeling, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and 3D printing. He will share his expertise with project partners and help develop VR-based lessons. Additionally, he is leading two eTwinning projects on Virtual Reality and Democratic Participation and will assist in disseminating our Erasmus+ project through the eTwinning platform. Our ICT teacher will oversee the project website.
Project: Time for TEA
We have been successfully implementing the Time for TEA project with two teachers and 64 students. This non-formal education initiative empowers students to address significant societal issues through discussions and creative presentations.
The project was first introduced at Brunel University, London, and culminated in Brussels, where our students presented their findings to European youth workers and Commissioners. The project follows a three-step process:
1. Identifying Key Issues – Students form groups, select a topic, and determine their target audience.
2. Creating Awareness Packages – They design creative packages containing a message and a packet of tea, encouraging recipients to pause and reflect on the issue.
3. Engaging with Decision-Makers – Students deliver their packages to relevant stakeholders, fostering dialogue and potential solutions.
We aim to expand this project, involving more teachers and students, and establishing it as a regional model for civic engagement.
Our Motivation
One of our primary goals is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of education by continuously improving the skills of both students and teachers. We believe that democratic values and human rights are essential for a better world.
Through Erasmus+ exchanges, students and teachers gain firsthand experience of how democratic values and human rights are upheld in different countries. Upon returning, they serve as ambassadors of these values, promoting them within our school and community.
However, achieving these objectives requires financial support. With EU funding, we can involve more students and teachers, raising awareness about human rights, democracy, and emerging technologies like Virtual Reality—not only within our school but also in our broader community.
We are committed to fostering academic excellence, digital innovation, and global citizenship, ensuring that our students are well-prepared for the future.
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