The Imam Hatip schools in Turkey -or leaders of prayer and preachers schools- are the number one destination of the Turkish people in general and the Arab communities, especially the Syrians. These schools are considered as a beacon of forensic science in Turkey since ancient times, and they became very popular after holding a number of special students such as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Imam Hatip schools in Turkey were named like this because most of the graduates of these schools work in the field of leadership prayer and preaching in Turkish mosques.
Today Imam Hatip schools do not only produce Imams (leaders of prayer) and hatips (deliver khutba at every Friday sermon), but they’re also designed to cultivate religious sensibilities in their students. The schools aim to heighten their student’s awareness of faith and promote the notion that religion should play a substantial role in the life of individuals and society. Get to know with us all about studying in Imam Hatip schools in Turkey, the school features, and the documents required to apply for one of these schools.
What is it like to study in Imam Hatip schools in Turkey?
- They are government schools affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of Education, in which the primary stage is not included, as the study process starts from middle school and then followed by high school. Many religious sciences are taught in Imam Hatip schools in addition to the academic subjects taught in all other schools.
Examples of religious academic subjects in Imam Hatip schools in Turkey:
Arabic language, biography, hadith, jurisprudence, interpretation of Quran, the Noble Quran and other religious sciences.
- Schools of imams and preachers follow a policy of non-mixing, as there are separate schools for female and male students.
- There is no difference between academic subjects taught in regular schools and the ones in Imam Hatip schools, and they are all with the same curriculum.
- Any student who has successfully finished the fourth grade in his country has the right to enroll in Imam Hatip schools in Turkey, where the studying process begins from the fifth grade of primary school.
- It’s the only school type in which the children can study Islamic subjects besides the general curriculum and the teachers are believed to impart traditional moral values.
- Imam hatip schools have also been established abroad to provide education for the children of Turkish expatriates. From Albania to Tanzania, there are 54 imam hatip schools abroad. Both in Islamic countries as well as others where Muslims live, there are schools which employ the imam-hatip model as formulated by civil society groups, with instructional programs and educational materials provided by Turkey.
Advantages of studying in Imam Hatip schools in Turkey:
- Free of charge and suitable for people with middle and limited incomes.
- The teaching process is in Turkish and Arabic.
- A minimum knowledge of the Turkish language is required for admission to schools.
- The institutions are spread all over the Turkish Republic.
- Teaching religious sciences alongside the Turkish government curriculum.
Papers required to apply in Imam Hatip schools in Turkey:
- The student’s father’ passport translated into the Turkish language, certified by the embassy of your country, and some copies of it.
- Residency in the Turkish Republic of any type, as no specific type of residence is required.
- Lease contract, title deed, or any bills that prove residency.
- An identity card or “kimlik”, which is overlooked in the case of obtaining a tourist residence permit, as the combination of kimlik and residency is considered an illegal act.
You can check the procedures in detail, which you will find similar to the application procedures in Turkish public schools in this article:
EASY WAY TO GET EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TURKEY
Know about Imam Hatip schools in Turkey in Arabic
