A ROADMAP TO IMPROVE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Vocational education and training (VET) ranks among the most significant contributors to the sustainable development of countries and the alleviation of youth unemployment. Therefore, countries are constantly making efforts to strengthen VET systems. An inadequate and ineffective VET system can result in significant costs both in the labor market and the education system. Recently, the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies has called for radical transformations throughout the education system, profoundly affecting VET. Countries are striving to address similar challenges in improving VET systems. In this context, Türkiye has made significant transformations in its VET systems in recent years, achieving notable success in solving chronic problems. As a result of this transformation, the orientation of academically high-performing students toward VET has increased significantly, and the share of VET track in upper-secondary school has risen from 28% to 52%, and increased the OECD average. Particularly, dramatic results have been achieved in apprenticeship training through meeting the apprentice, journeyman, and master needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. This study briefly examines the transformation within this scope and presents recommendations for the acceleration of improvement of VET system. The recommendations include growing role of VET centers (VTCs), developing compensatory programs in VTCs to facilitate skill transfer, introducing flexibility in the duration of VCT programs, reviewing education programs and curricula in VET high schools, and reconsidering the relationship between secondary VET education and higher education. At this point, the steps to be taken within the framework of the new roadmap can make VET much stronger and resilient, especially in reducing youth unemployment.