The first of three parts of this review of Turkey's educational system and national educational policies, the examiner's report, begins by singling out essential features of modern Turkey that affect the provision of education and to which the system is having to respond. These include Turkey's unique geographic situation, its continuing devotion to the ideals and principles of Ataturk, founder and first President of the Republic, its rapidly expanding economy but continuing heavy reliance on agriculture, it high birth rate, and its increasing urbanization. On basic education the examiners note with approval the authorities' determination to retain small schools but consider that some changes are needed in order to make teaching there more effective. A sector facing particularly pressing problems is lower secondary education, mainly because of the rapid rate at which it is being extended to the relevant age group. A curriculum originally designed for an academically oriented minority must now be re-designed to satisfy a wider range of needs and interests. Turkey has decided to offer a diversified system after basic education with strong emphasis on vocational and technical training. One problem in the area of teacher training is the low academic caliber of candidates. A record of the review meeting, with the replies to the examiners' questions, is given in part 2 of the document, and part 3 supplies a background report prepared by the Turkish authorities on educational activities in Turkey from 1984 to 1986. (PBB)