26.02.2019 Ankara
A step was taken to integrate vocational education with the real sector. The Vocational Training Cooperation Protocol was signed between the Ministry of National Education, the Union Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and TOBB Economics and Technology University at the ceremony hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and attended by Education Minister Ziya Selçuk. Evaluating the protocol as ‘a historic day for both the education system and our business world,’ Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are taking a step that we have voiced the necessity of for years but have been unable to bring to life. We are integrating vocational education with the real sector.”
Stating that the contributions of Ziya Selçuk, the Minister of National
Education, are instrumental in taking this visionary step, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“We have seen how a Minister from the business world can disrupt rote memorizations.
I would like to congratulate and applaud him for pioneering such a beneficial
endeavor.”
Stating that companies have complained about not being able to find
qualified personnel, the TOBB President said, “Young people are languishing in
coffee houses all over the country. Why, because the education we give in
schools doesn't work in the real world. The qualities demanded in the job
market are not taught in schools. We had to change this asymmetric structure.
We looked abroad. The country with the lowest rate of youth unemployment in
Europe is Germany with 6%. Why? Because they have integrated vocational
education and real sector through chambers. We boast that we have a young
population. But in fact, we are unable to make use of this potential. Many
young people are unemployed because they have no vocation. This is a big risk
for the future. Here, the Turkish business world, our chambers and exchanges have
taken on this task. Thanks to the brave and resolute policy of our Minister of
Education, a first for Turkey is in the offing. We move on to a new and dynamic
vocational training model, which is prepared according to the qualities demanded
by the market. In this context, 81 vocational high schools in 81 provinces are
covered by the protocol. We will ensure that the vocational training in these
places is designed in line with the needs of the sector through our chambers
and exchanges. We will establish workshops and laboratories in these schools
and renew existing ones. We will launch R & D and Skill Design Workshops.
We will prepare the educational syllabus with the support of TOBB ETU.”
- Minister of National Education
Ziya Selçuk
Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk said, “TOBB’s existence as the
driving force of our economy and our cooperation with it are of vital
importance. This importance is expressed directly with the relationship between
economy and education. Because, if we are talking about the middle income trap,
this is actually a secondary education trap. In other words, if our education
improves, our economy will get better. In this context, we are happy to be
taking such a step. In my opinion, this is the transformation in the
professional and technical education. Within the framework of this
transformation, the course schedules of vocational and technical education,
teacher trainings, conducting the work and operations there, and transitioning
to a production-based education show that all of these changes will impact the
transformation of the paradigm in vocational education. This will not be
accomplished by a simple decision from within the Ministry of National
Education, but with the efforts of our office representatives, our school
principals' efforts. For this reason, we have to put our support in these
efforts with no reservations.”
Stating that they are working to fulfill their share in attaining the 2023
goals as the educational community trying, Selcuk said, “Of course, we have
expectations from the business world. In taking part in this protocol, they
have taken on a great burden. For this, I would like to thank all business
representatives. There are no more excuses; There are some problems and a great
many expectations. Let me give a simple statistic: In Germany, 80% of vocational
technical schools are schools supported by the private sector. I think our work
in all 81 provinces is a beginning and this study is especially relevant to our
other vocational technical schools and about 130,000 vocational technical
schools. I think that our ability to grow in this context will also serve to
improve them in the development of these projects. The fact that this work is
carried out together with TOBB and TOBB ETU also shows the importance of the
link between secondary and higher education. The existence of TOBB-ETÜ is
important in terms of reflecting this at secondary level. While maintaining all
these, we can easily say that a new era has started in vocational and technical
education; that this is intertwined with the sector, and that production in our
schools is a learning method. I am very grateful for the fact that a work that
has been imagined for many years is being brought to life today; I would like
to thank everyone who contributed.”