EDUCATION
In
the Ottoman Empire, education was received from the Medrese, part
of every mosque complex, and centered around Koranic instruction. It
was available to boys only - girls were instructed in household skills and crafts
from within the harem. Only 10% of the population were literate.
In contrast,
Ataturk claimed that "our most important duty is to win a victory in the
field of education". He insisted on an educational system that was comprehensive
and inclusive. With his customary insight, he realized that education was the
key to the acceptance of the radical reforms which were being implemented. Primary
education was immediately taken under the jurisdiction of the state and made compulsory
and free. Religious schools were closed and an infrastructure of primary and middle
schools was built up. Universities were established to provide much needed technical
and scientific training.
Today the educational
system is in the midst of a process of expansion, necessary to cope with educating
the youngest population in Europe. In August 1997 compulsory basic education was
extended from five to eight years. It is estimated that over 1,1 million children
will receive three extra years of free basic education as a result. The government
aims to reduce average classroom density from 50 to 30 students by increasing
the number of both classrooms and teachers. Increased emphasis is being placed
on the teaching of foreign languages and on computer skills. It is proposed to
increase teachers'pay. These reforms will be financed by increased taxation and
by investment from the IBRD and the World Bank.
Many private
schools, universities and institutes of higher education are being established,
offering excellent standards and facilities. Native speaker are commonly employed
to encourage mastery of foreign languages, in order to underwrite Turkeys' increasingly
open society. Turkish schools, even when struggling with underfunding, display
high levels of staff professionalism and dedication, strong student motivation
and parental and community involvement.
Among the
foreign high schools operating in Turkey are:
1. Alman Lisesi
- Deutsche Schule, Istanbul
2. American Collegiate Institute, Ozel Izmir Amerikan Lisesi, Izmir ;
3. Istanbul International Community School, Istanbul
4. Lycee Charles De Gaulle, Ankara
5. Lycee de Galatasaray, Istanbul
6. Lycee Francais Saint-Benoît, Istanbul
7. METU Development Foundation School, Ankara
8. Oesterreichisches St. Georgs-Kolleg, Istanbul
9. Robert College of Istanbul, Istanbul
10. TED Ankara Private School, Ankara
11. Uskudar American Academy, Istanbul
12. Uskudar Anadolu Lisesi, Istanbul
Higher Education
There are currently 54 universities in Turkey. Students earn places in university
through a two-phase examination (OYS and OSS) held yearly by the Centre for Student
Selection and Placement. Following high school, many young people spend a year
studying at private institutions (ozel dershaneler) in order to pass these exams
successfully. For foreigners who would like to study in Turkey, there is a special
examination for which the papers are given in both English and Turkish, following
which they are given a year in which to study Turkish. During 1991-1992 there
were 14,548 foreign students in Turkish universities of which almost half were
from the Turkic republics.
