Atatürk High School of Science, Istanbul

Atatürk High School of Science, Istanbul (IAFL) is the second high school of science created under the legislation of the High School of Science Project in Turkey. It is located in Kuyubasi, Kadıköy, Istanbul.

IAFL was established in 1982 by the directive of the Republic of Turkey's seventh President, Kenan Evren.

Since its first graduates in 1985, IAFL has been an institution where students who have contributed to the future of Turkey have been educated. The school has graduates all over the world in areas ranging from engineering to medicine, basic sciences to social sciences.

IAFL has become one of the most reputable high schools in Turkey with its self-confident, knowledgeable, smart, socially active graduates in line with Atatürk's ideals.

IAFL's objective has been to educate students who will fulfill Turkey's need for scientists, engineers and doctors in Turkey. To achieve this goal, the school has been aggressively preserving its foundations and creating a model for other schools to follow. One measure of the school's progress is its students' success in scientific competitions, both internationally (i.e. International Mathematical Olympiad) and nationally (i.e. TUBITAK).

The board of teachers at IAFL is composed of the most successful teachers in their subject areas. These teachers have been elected through a series of tests. The classes are based not on memorizing but on comprehending the basic information, working through difficult questions and learning the methods of scientific questioning. In the first two years, students go through intensive science courses which aim at covering the standard national three year high-school curriculum. During their final year, they are exposed to advanced university level science courses to help them pursue their knowledge on research projects that they would like to participate in and to advance their freshmen courses at university. The curriculum also enables the students to pass the nationwide University Entrance Test organized by the YOK authority.

Foreign language education is taken as seriously as science courses at IAFL. When the students enter the school, they take a test to determine their level of language in English, German and French; and each student will attend to at least one of these courses.

Each class has no more than 24 students, and this environment enables education with ongoing discussions. The laboratories and the library resources supplement the course work providing practicality in addition to the theoretical studies. Physics, chemistry, biology, computer and language laboratories are equipped with up-to-date material and are also available to students outside class hours as well.

Outside class hours, the smart and ambitious students take the opportunity to share their ideas, practice team work and learn about friendship. As a boarding school, IAFL provides a well established opportunity for the students make lifelong friends and learn self-discipline.

The 300 person capacity dining lounge, sports facilities, relaxation rooms and the canteen are all easily accessed with connections through buildings.

For leisure time the school supports social clubs, managed by students themselves, that arrange local or national visits to popular locations, theatrical events and concerts.

The 600 seat theatre hall gives the students the opportunity to put on amateur plays. There is a conference room facility in the main building for special occasions. During their leisure times, students benefit from the sports ground with its football, basketball, volleyball and tennis fields and a sports center.

The Music Room is available to those who wish to pursue their interest in music. Students represent IAFL at the annual interscholastic "Milliyet Muzik Yarismalari" competition in popular music.

The parents association, "Koruma Dernegi", stands by the school management to support the school and its students in all aspects.

After the three years of intensive education, every graduate of IAFL may be a member of the Atatürk High School of Science, Istanbul Alumni Association (AFLIM). The alumni society aims to bring together and continue the communication among the graduates through social events such as barbecue gatherings and new year celebration meals.

Every year, IAFL graduates 96 ambitious students who are not only successful in academics, but who have learned how to participate in all areas of life. The graduates' success in Turkey and around the world has been and will continue to be the proof of the school's high quality.

External links

* [http://www.iafl.k12.tr Atatürk High School of Science, Istanbul]