There are many teachers working in educational institutions across our country. In addition to their regular salaries, these teachers may receive supplementary payments based on the additional services they provide. Teachers who give extra lessons receive payment proportional to the lessons they deliver. The insurance procedures for those assigned extra teaching hours are also covered within this framework.
Individuals assigned to teach extra hours are referred to under the law as paid (hourly) teachers. Paid teachers step in when there is a shortage of staff. People appointed to teach for a fee are called paid teachers and are responsible for delivering the extra lessons assigned to them. Extra lessons can be held in schools, educational institutions, universities and any venues where public education-related programs are provided.
The concept of extra lessons has gained importance recently. The Ministry of National Education determines who can be assigned extra lessons, which courses they may teach, and how long they can provide those lessons. Under the law, the maximum duration and weekly limits for extra teaching hours are specified as follows:
- Principals, chief deputy principals and deputy principals may teach up to 6 hours of extra lessons per week.
- Teachers of general knowledge and vocational subjects have a requirement of 6 mandatory hours and may teach up to a total of 15 hours of extra lessons per week.
- Workshop and laboratory teachers have a requirement of 20 mandatory hours and may be assigned up to 24 hours of extra lessons per week.
These extra teaching assignments must be related to the instructor’s field of expertise. Individuals cannot receive extra lesson assignments outside their subject area. Another important issue is how the insurance procedures for those assigned extra lessons are handled. Because social security is a significant matter in our country, the coverage and insurance status of those giving extra lessons are also defined.
According to the laws, those employed as master instructors by the Ministry of National Education or those working in public institutions for a fee are considered within the scope of social insurance. Another question is which insurance category extra lesson providers fall under. Within the regulatory framework, personnel who deliver extra lessons at all levels of education and training institutions, universities, schools or courses are considered insured under Article 4 of Law No. 5510, provided they are not subject to the Pension Fund (Emekli Sandığı) under the same law.
Premium Calculations for Those Who Give Extra Lessons
Another aspect of the insurance procedures for those assigned extra lessons concerns the calculation of the days and earnings that serve as the basis for premium contributions. Under Law No. 5510, the earnings of those assigned extra lessons are calculated by dividing the total gross extra lesson pay by the daily lower limit of earnings subject to premiums, provided the number of days for which premiums are paid does not exceed 30 days.
The premiums for paid teachers, that is for those assigned extra lessons, must be entered as 30 days regardless of the number of extra lessons they have actually taught. Calculating premiums by hours is considered incorrect. Errors can sometimes occur when premium days are recorded. Individuals assigned extra lessons can obtain their Social Security Institution records for previous periods to verify the accuracy of their insurance transactions. If premium days were underpaid in past assignments, these individuals can apply to the Ministry of National Education to correct the records. If the Ministry rejects such applications, paid teachers also have the option of pursuing their rights through legal action.