Minister Defends LGS Results, Slams Opposition’s “Manipulative” Claims

Education Minister Yusuf Tekin has strongly rejected allegations of cheating in this year’s LGS (High School Entrance Exam), following public backlash over 719 students achieving perfect scores. Tekin described accusations of leaked exam questions as “manipulative” and “unfounded,” adding that the Ministry of Education had overseen the process with full transparency and rigorous control.

Speaking at the “Victory Named Turkey: Special Children’s Art Exhibition” hosted at the Ministry’s council hall, Tekin emphasized the importance of raising generations committed to democracy, national unity, and independence. After touring the exhibition, which featured works from students with special needs, Tekin took questions from reporters, addressing the LGS controversy head-on.

Leaked Questions Claim Dismissed

Tekin condemned opposition parties and critics for exploiting the exam results for political gain. Regarding claims that the exam questions were leaked, he cited security records, pointing out that the exam ended at 10:45 AM, and the questions in question were shared on social media at 11:57 AM.

“To suggest this compromises the exam’s integrity shows either a lack of logic or a willful attempt to deceive,” he said.
“We’ve already explained this in detail—as if talking to the slow-witted. Still, they persist.”

Direct Attack on CHP and Muharrem İnce

In response to CHP and Memleket Partisi founder Muharrem İnce’s criticisms—particularly references to a “foul smell” around the LGS—Tekin struck back:

“If there’s a foul smell, it’s coming from CHP’s corruption scandals, not the Ministry of Education,” he said.
“They’re trying to deflect from bribery and mismanagement in CHP municipalities.”

Tekin said that claiming the presence of hundreds of top scorers from a single city was both misleading and unethical, and that critics were unfairly discrediting students’ efforts and teachers’ integrity.

“Students Followed the Books—That’s the Reason”

Addressing skepticism over how so many students achieved perfect scores despite the exam’s difficulty, Tekin reiterated the Ministry’s consistent message to students: focus on textbooks and listen to teachers.

“If 719 students aced the exam, that proves our advice worked,” he said.
“There’s no need for external prep materials when the curriculum is taught well.”

CHP Accused of Using Students for Political Gain

Tekin accused the CHP of leveraging children for political manipulation, especially in light of recent scandals in municipalities like Manavgat. He warned against weaponizing students’ success for political narratives:

“Don’t project your political guilt onto children,” Tekin said.
“We investigate every complaint seriously. The academic honor of our students is a sacred trust, and we protect it with an army of 1.2 million educators and staff.”

No Clustering or Ranking Disruption Detected

In response to education experts who noted clustering in top percentile scores, suggesting LGS had lost its function as a ranking exam, Tekin clarified that the Ministry never labels any student as “first place.” He added that the General Directorate of Assessment and Examination Services has evaluated the results and found no anomaly in distribution.

“Many top scorers opted not for elite schools but for local institutions or schools near family,” he noted.
“Since 2018, roughly 6% of students consistently score in the top tier, aligning with PISA and ABIDE metrics. There’s no irregularity here—only political noise.”

Minister’s Final Message

Tekin concluded by reiterating that criticism should not come at the expense of children’s mental well-being or undermine public trust in the education system.

“These are children just leaving middle school. Planting doubts in their minds is unethical,” he said.
“This is not how you correct your own political flaws.”