A ROADMAP TO IMPROVE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN TÜRKİYE

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Vocational education and training
• Youth unemployment
• Artificial intelligence
• Employment
• Labor market

TÜRKİYE’DE MESLEKİ EĞİTİMİ GÜÇLENDİRMEK İÇİN BİR YOL HARİTASI

Öz

ÖZ Mesleki eğitim ülkelerin kalkınmasına ve genç işsizliğin düşürülmesine en fazla katkı yapan eğitim türlerinin başında gelmektedir. Bu nedenle ülkeler, eğitim sistemlerinde mesleki eğitimi güçlendirmek için sürekli bir çaba içerisindedir. Aksi durum hem işgücü piyasasında hem de eğitim sisteminde büyük maliyetler ödenmesine yol açmaktadır. Son zamanlarda özellikle yapay zekâ ve otomasyon teknolojilerinin yaygınlaşması tüm eğitim sisteminde köklü dönüşümler yapılmasını talep ederken bu dönüşüm talepleri mesleki eğitimi çok daha derinden etkilemektedir. Ülkeler mesleki eğitimi güçlendirmek için hemen hemen benzer sorunları çözmeye çalışmaktadır. Bu bağlamda Türkiye mesleki eğitimde özellikle son yıllarda çok önemli dönüşümler yaparak bu sorunların çözümünde önemli başarılar elde etmiştir. Bu dönüşüm sonunda mesleki eğitime akademik olarak başarılı öğrencilerin yönelimi arttığı gibi mesleki eğitimin ortaöğretimdeki payı da %28’den %52’ye yükselmiştir. Özellikle küçük ve orta ölçekli işletmelerin çırak, kalfa ve usta ihtiyacının karşılanmasında çok dramatik sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada bu kapsamda yaşanan dönüşüm kısaca değerlendirilmekte ve mesleki eğitimin çok daha güçlü hale gelebilmesi için öneriler sunulmaktadır. Öneriler, mesleki eğitim merkezlerinin mesleki eğitimdeki payı, bu merkezlerde beceri transferine imkân verecek telafi programlarının geliştirilmesi, mesleki eğitim merkezlerindeki programlarda süre esnekliği, meslek liselerindeki programların gözden geçirilmesi ve mesleki ortaöğretim ve yükseköğretim ilişkilerinin yeniden gözden geçirilmesini kapsamaktadır. Gelinen noktada yeni yol haritası kapsamında atılacak adımlar mesleki eğitimi çok daha güçlü ve dirençli kılacağı gibi özellikle genç işsizliğin azaltılmasında da çok önemli katkılar sunabilecektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mesleki eğitim
• Genç işsizliği
• Yapay zekâ
• İstihdam
• İşgücü piyasası

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