January 1996 — Features
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Use of Computers at High Schools in Turkey
Turkey's Ministry of Education initiated a computer-aided education (CAE) project in 1984, which took shape between 1984 and 1986. Its main aims were to spread computer literacy and the use of computers as one tool to compensate for the poor quality and persistent deficiencies of suitable teachers. In a country with a very young demographic structure, the project was to play an important role in creating a computer-literate workforce central to the future competitiveness of Turkey's economy.
This article first describes our education system. Then the CAE Project phases are discussed chronologically. Next is general assessment of the current situation with regard to use of computers in high schools. Finally, very broad conclusions related to CAE experience in Turkey are made.
Turkey's Education System
Education in Turkey is centrally directed, controlled and, in the case of state schools, funded by the Ministry of Education.
The first stage in formal education (Figure 1) is the five-year compulsory primary school education, which starts at age six or seven. It is followed by either a three-year secondary school or the first part of seminary or Anatolian high school (Lycee) education. From the age of 14 or 15 onwards for secondary school graduates, high school education is the next stage. Most private high schools and Anatolian-type Lycees teach in English.
All high school graduates take the National University Entrance Examination to gain access to higher education. The number of places available in higher education institutions is significantly less than the number of students who take the exam. An ever increasing number of high school graduates take it each year.
High School Education
As this article mainly concentrates on the use of computers in high school education, some statistics should prove useful.
As shown in Graph 1, the high school-age population in the academic year 1987-88 was about 3.3 million. According to projections of a five-year plan prepared by the State Planning Organisation, by 1993-94 it was estimated to be about 4.1 million with an in-school ratio of 45.2%. Graph 1 shows steady growth in the high school-age population as well as in the number of pupils at high schools. It also reveals the constantly ascending young demographic structure of Turkey. In 1990, about 47% of Turkey's population was under the age of 20.[1]
In the academic year 1989-90, in a total of about 2,000 regular and vocational state high schools, there were 1.3 million pupils and 105,000 teachers. As some teachers also teach at secondary schools, the pupil-to-teacher ratio is 31:1, obtained by using the total student and teacher figures in secondary and high schools.[2]
