THE CURRENT SITUATION #
Undoubtedly, the subject of Turkey’s agenda every year is the university entrance exam. Although the names of the exam change over time, it always remains the same in essence. In the current exam system, students’ having to compete against time in the exams that are applied 2 days in a row, and being responsible for all the lessons during their high school education forces students to use their full capacity in “a single exam that will determine their life”.The fear of not being able to get into a good university, the fear of being “useless” in the future, no matter how many worries are instilled in their children by families, unfortunately, this examination system can boost this fear instead of reducing it.
-This issue is not unique to Turkey, there are similar examination systems in other countries. In different countries, high school generally provides education for university preparation and similarly, students are placed into the university with a single exam.
TURKEY’S SITUATION #
However, compared to some countries, Turkey’s population, the number of students, the number of universities, and the unemployment rate affect students in Turkey as if it were an irreversible exam that would affect their lives. To give an example, approximately 3.20 million people registered for the university exam this year (2022), and 3.08 of these people took the exam. Students aiming for high places need to show themselves more than these 3.08 people and have to succeed to enter at least the first 100,000. And they need to complete this process in a total of about 6 hours. Predictably, this can be a source of great stress for an 18-year-old.
On the contrary, what would it be like if students’ future universities were determined by 4 years, not just 6 hours?
In other words, could it be possible for universities that are highly successful to receive a high school average of 99 out of 100? But wouldn’t that mean a student must work hard for 4 years constantly? In the current system, even if some students have bad GPAs, they can achieve to go to good universities in their senior year by showing great determination. However, working hard for 4 years in the aforementioned system and trying to keep the grade point average high every year also increase the stress level in students’ lives like the current system. In addition, in this case, private and public schools should also have equal education, equal exams, and equal and fair distribution of points. Then the concept of private school may be in danger of disappearing completely. This means the disappearance of an industry that revolves around money. So, unfortunately, this option does not seem to be very applicable.
– Nonetheless, there are many possibilities to discuss. But which of these are suitable for Turkey is another important issue that needs to be emphasized.
MY OPINION ON THIS TOPIC #
I think the problem is not only in the education system. There are just as many problems with our way of thinking. Ever since we were little we are asked what we want to be when we grow up. When we say that I will be a painter and I will be a singer, it is said that you will be unemployed and you will not be able to support your family. When you grow up, they say that you should earn your money by doing a job like an engineer, a doctor, an architect, a scientist. Even if children have talents, they are forced out of these areas and forced to do jobs they do not want. As a result, they fail unintentionally and are labeled as “failure”, which is the inevitable end.
Every child should focus on the area she/he wants and has talent. Not going to university should not be considered a failure. Nor is it a failure to score badly. Think of it this way, you have no talent for drawing, but if you turn to a field other than painting, you are considered “unsuccessful” and “unemployed” in society. How ridiculous is that, isn’t it?
To sum up, whether the university exam is determined by 3 hours or 12 years, if a person does not like the job he/she is going to do or is doing, every minute he/she does that job is a waste of time and torture to himself/herself.
