Oltu Science High School

Oltu Fen Lisesi is a public school under the authority of the Ministry of National Education of Türkiye, located in the Yusuf Ziyabey Neighborhood of the Oltu district in Erzurum province. The institution operates as a project school with a curriculum focused on the natural sciences, preparing students for higher education institutions.^【1】

^{School Garden} (Oltu Fen Lisesi)

The institution began operations in the 2005-2006 academic year in the former TKI facilities of the district under the name Oltu Anatolian Teacher High School. To meet the growing needs of the school during the period between 2005 and 2009, construction of a fully equipped campus commenced in 2008.

The new campus, completed by TOKİ, opened for service in the 2009-2010 academic year with a 16-classroom school building and a dormitory with a capacity of 200 students. In the 2013-2014 academic year, dormitory capacity was increased to 228. In the 2014-2015 academic year, as part of the transformation of Anatolian Teacher High Schools, the institution adopted the status of a Science High School and was officially designated a Project Science High School in 2018.^【2】

Oltu Fen Lisesi is hierarchically subordinate to the Ministry of National Education of Türkiye and operates under the supervision of the Oltu District Governorship and the District Directorate of National Education. The institution’s operations are governed by the Ministry of National Education’s Regulations on Secondary Education Institutions and related legislation. Its institutional governance is structured according to the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan and includes internal monitoring and planning units such as the Strategy Development Board and the Strategic Planning Team.^【3】

^{School Dormitory} (Oltu Fen Lisesi)

Education at the school is conducted on a full-day basis. The institution’s mission is to cultivate individuals with strong academic awareness, a focus on scientific inquiry, and effective use of technology. The curriculum emphasizes science and mathematics and is designed to enable students to achieve high performance in centralized examinations such as AYT and TYT. Educational processes are structured around scientific thinking skills, creative and critical thinking, foreign language proficiency (English and German), and project development.^【4】

Student admissions to the institution are conducted based on the centralized examination (LGS) score organized by the Ministry of National Education. The school’s annual student quota is set at 90. The minimum admission scores vary by year: in 2021, the range was 362.921 to 425.060; in 2022, it was 379.655 to 441.558; and in 2023, it was 362 to 425.^【5】

The campus consists of two separate blocks: a five-story reinforced concrete main school building including ground floor and a dormitory building. The campus includes 16 classrooms, physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, a library, teacher workrooms, guidance services, art and music rooms, and a multi-purpose hall. Heating is provided by a natural gas-based radiator system. Technological infrastructure includes fiber-optic internet connectivity, smart boards, and computer-printer equipment in administrative units, all implemented under the Fatih Project.^【6】

The school’s management structure consists of the principal, deputy principal, and assistant principals. As of 2024, Yusuf Kartal serves as principal. The staff comprises teachers in Turkish Language and Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Philosophy, English, German, Religious Culture, Physical Education, Information Technologies, and Visual Arts, along with guidance counselors, administrative personnel, and support staff. A significant portion of the teaching staff has over ten years of experience.^【7】

The current student population is 314. Approximately 60 percent of students reside in the dormitory through the state-funded boarding program. Since its establishment, the institution has graduated a total of 1,149 students. According to academic performance statistics, 100 percent of students pass the university entrance threshold, and 75 to 80 percent are admitted to four-year higher education programs.^【8】

Various club activities and courses are organized at the institution to support students’ mental and physical development. In sports, the school fields teams in basketball, athletics, and darts, participating in competitions at provincial and district levels (e.g., second place in provincial darts and second place in district athletics). Culturally, the school has achieved first place in the provincial “Boarding Schools Read” competition (2018), earned awards in poetry and composition contests, organized creative writing and literature exercises, and held annual art exhibitions. Additionally, panels and conferences such as “Anadolu Mektebi” author readings are conducted.^【9】

Oltu Fen Lisesi implements various projects at national and international levels. Internationally, it conducts activities under eTwinning projects and Erasmus+ school education accreditation programs, including participation from Bulgaria.

At the academic level, the school follows central initiatives such as TÜBİTAK scientific project competitions and the “Riches of Our Language” project. Among its past achievements is first place in the 2015 European Union Information Contest.^【10】