Minister Yusuf Tekin announces: Interest in vocational high schools is increasing

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin visited the Teknopark Ankara İvedik OSB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School as part of the "Skilled Youth at the Heart of Education" events and shared current data regarding vocational education. Tekin made statements regarding student preferences, industry collaborations, and new education projects.

THE RATE IN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS IS RISING

Stating that vocational and technical education has become the largest field within secondary education, Tekin expressed that in the general picture, 41 out of every 100 students are receiving education in vocational high schools. Emphasizing that the increase this year is more remarkable, Tekin announced that 43 percent of students enrolling at the 9th-grade level chose vocational high schools.

Tekin stated that this increase is continuing steadily and that current rates are approaching international standards, particularly OECD averages.

“NOT INTERMEDIATE STAFF, BUT SOUGHT-AFTER STAFF”

Making assessments regarding the qualified workforce, Tekin said that they use the definition of "sought-after staff" instead of the term "intermediate staff." Calling on the business world and professional chambers, the Minister stated that if the areas needed by the sectors are shared, training programs can be updated accordingly.

Tekin said, "We create these programs, train our students, and open our schools. Our expectation from you is that support is provided both in the employment of the graduating youth and in them establishing their own businesses."

Touching upon the social perception towards vocational high schools, Tekin stated that past political processes affected educational preferences. Expressing that vocational high schools and imam hatip schools have reached the level they were at before February 28 as of today, Tekin stated that the negative perception from the past is influential in families' tendency toward academic education.

Emphasizing that this perception must be broken, Tekin said that social ownership will be decisive in this process.

Touching upon projects aimed at directing students according to their interests and talents, Minister Tekin announced that the "Vocational Aptitude Determination Battery" project, developed in cooperation with TÜBİTAK, has been implemented.

Tekin also stated that new practices such as "craft workshops" and "vocational middle schools" have been put into effect so that students can discover their vocational skills at an early age.