Policymakers, education experts and teachers came together in Ankara to strengthen the role of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in shaping foreign language education policies and classroom practices in Türkiye.
On the morning of 7 October 2025, an Awareness Raising Training on CEFR in Language Education introduced CEFR and Companion Volume to policymakers, focusing on its structure applications in curriculum and teaching which was also honoured by the participation of the Deputy Minister of National Education Assoc. Prof. Dr Celile Eren Ökten. The event aimed to strengthen understanding of CEFR principles and their implementation in foreign language education.
In the afternoon, the First Strategic Meeting opened with remarks by Dr Sarah Breslin, Executive Director of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) and Head of the Language Policy of the Council of Europe; Mr William Massolin, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara; and Prof. Dr Cihad Demirli, President of the Board of Education, Ministry of National Education.
The meeting continued with a presentation of the Language Education Policy Profile (LEPP) Report, which provides an overall perspective on the status of foreign language education in Türkiye. This was followed by a presentation on the project’s outcomes, during which participants exchanged views on possible strategies to ensure the sustainability of the project’s expected results.
On 8 October 2025, a Seminar on CEFR in Language Education brought together more than 400 participants, including Deputy Minister of National Education Assoc. Prof. Dr Celile Eren Ökten, embassy representatives, officials from the central administrations of ministries, academics, foreign language teachers, and representatives of civil society organisations. The seminar aimed to raise awareness of the role of the CEFR in promoting inclusive and quality foreign language education.
Together, these events strengthened co-operation among policymakers, experts, and educators, and underlined the importance of aligning foreign language education in Türkiye with international standards.
This activity is part of the Joint Project on Enhancing Foreign Language Education Quality in Türkiye, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe in close co-operation with the Ministry of National Education.
