Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk stated that his Ministry had a meeting with the Ministers of Industry and Technology and Family, Labor and Social Services last year and reached agreement on the program which foresees cooperation for 30 months.

 

Selçuk mentioned the context of the program and said that modern skills such as social media, programing and digital design of students will be improved through certificate programs.

 

Selçuk recalled that the education policy of the country was updated with the 2023 Education Vision that aims at increasing the quality of vocational education and reinforcing education, employment and the production cycle. Noting that the curriculum of vocational and technical schools was transformed according to changes in science, industry and technology and demands of the sector, Selçuk stressed the new structure of these schools is based on practice.

 

Selçuk said that the Ministry took important steps for the effective and productive structure and improvement of financial, psychical and technologic infrastructure, management and organization of vocational education.

 

Recalling that the Ministry also prepared a "Vocational Education Map" that compares supply and demand relations between active labor market and education provided in vocational and technical education, Selçuk stated that they continue to open vocational schools that will respond to the demand in certain regions.

 

Selçuk stated that they founded 46 R&D centers in vocational and technical education institutions adding that, "Vocational and technical schools continue to work in an effort to produce many high tech and valuable products such as autonomous agricultural vehicle, 3 function printer, mini CNC router machine, supply drone, autonomous irrigation device, air sampling device and composite-carbon alloyed ship."

 

Selçuk noted that more than 30 million liras were allocated to these schools.

 

Noting that they organized training programs about patent, R&D, innovation and project management for school administrators and teachers, Selçuk went on to say: "Our theme of the 2019-2020 education year as "patent, useful model, brand and design". In the first five months of 2021, we applied for the registration of 2 thousand and 730 products and 663 patents, useful models, designs and brands were registered. We signed more than 200 cooperation protocols with sector companies and NGOs. We prepared the curriculum in cooperation with the sector. Our teachers are attending on the job training programs in a real business environment. We implement projects in an effort to increase the proficiency of our students, offer scholarships during their education and provide employment opportunities after their graduation."

 

"Workplace based education" is an important part of vocational and technical education, said Selçuk adding that as a result of successful projects, number of students enrolled in vocational education institutions increased by 42 percent and reached 160 thousand.

 

Selçuk noted that "1000 Schools in Vocational Education Project" aiming at reinforcing vocational and technical education and providing equal opportunities for students increased the quality of education and decreased success differences between schools.

 

As a part of the project, 354 thousand students received personal development support and 221 thousand teachers attended professional improvement training programs.

 

Meanwhile, Minister Varank said the digital concept is at the center of our age and transformation process adding that, "Youth that we define as "Generation Z" who are born during this transformation period will become a part of business life in the near future. Under these circumstances, we must base our labor force on skills and talents. We must concentrate on different working and teaching models."

 

Labor and Social Services Minister Vedat Bilgin said, "It is necessary to design development by considering the human factor and freedom of people. I believe that people can improve their own potentials."