Professor Özkara, who has become the talk of Turkey, tells 12punto: 'I don't want any trouble'

Prof. Dr. Behçet Yalçın Özkara had taken the YKS exam to highlight flaws in the system and announced that he had been placed in a Physics department with a net score of minus 1.75 in Physics. While the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) denied Özkara's claim, the professor at the center of the controversy spoke to 12punto.

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Professor Özkara, who has become the talk of Turkey, tells 12punto: 'I don't want any trouble'

Hikmet Eren ÇELENK / 12punto EXCLUSIVE

Prof. Dr. Behçet Yalçın Özkara, who has gained prominence with his "AkademikLink" channel where he publishes career-focused talks on social media, had participated in the 2024 Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) to demonstrate the flaws in the system and announced that he had been placed in a physics department with a net score of minus 1.75 in physics. Yalçın Özkara's statement had become one of the most talked-about topics on social media.

(Prof. Dr. Behçet Yalçın Özkara's exam result)

YÖK AND DMM DENIED IT

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) issued denials regarding the matter. In its statement regarding the claims that he was placed in a physics department with a net score of minus 1.75 in physics, the DMM stated, "The claim appearing in some press outlets and social media accounts that 'A faculty member was placed in a physics department with a net score of minus 1.75 in the YKS exam' is manipulation."

YÖK stated, "The candidate's numerical (SAY) score was calculated because they had 3.75 net in the AYT Mathematics test and 0.5 net in Physics and 1.25 net in Biology in the Science test."

Following the statements from YÖK and the DMM, 12punto reached out to Behçet Yalın Özkara.

'I DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE'

When asked about the statements from YÖK and the DMM, Özkara said the following:

"I think they didn't understand what I meant. I had put forward the thesis that just as I could get into a physics department with a low net score in physics questions, I could also get into a history department with low net scores in history. It seems they thought I was claiming that I could make a preference by finishing the entire exam with a negative net score, and they made these statements based on that."

Touching upon the shortcomings of the exam system, Prof. Dr. Özkara said, "I think that the issue coming to the agenda in this way has drawn enough attention to the deficiencies of the exam system. There is a misunderstanding here. The statements from YÖK and the DMM show this. Frankly, it looks like this issue will drag on. I don't want any trouble. I will remain silent to avoid further tension."

News Source: Hikmet Eren Çelenk