YİBO

YİBO ("Yatılı İlköğretim Bölge Okulu" in Turkish) refers to a class of public elementary boarding schools in rural parts of Turkey. PİO ("Pansiyonlu İlköğretim Bölge Okulu") also refers to a similar class of schools the differences between the two classes of schools being minor. Many YİBOs and PİOs have been founded since 1962 as part of an ongoing government policy to increase the literacy levels and promote education in rural and underdeveloped parts of Turkey. As of 2003, there are 538 of these schools in operation (285 YİBOs and 253 PİOs).[1]

The main purpose of the YİBOs is to provide the students from poor families who live in underdeveloped parts of Turkey with an 8 year elementary education. YİBOs accept students from neighboring residential areas (villages and small towns) that don't have a proper elementary school. Most students are boarding therefore YİBOs also provide the students with food and accomodation throughout their elementary education. YİBOs are public schools so they provide these services at a relatively low cost to poor families.

See Also

1. Report on YİBOs and PİOs, by İbrahim Er, President of Elementary Education in the Ministry of Education.