Primary school dropout rates surge in Türkiye
education in Turkey
The deepening economic contraction across Türkiye is no longer just affecting household budgets; it is actively dismantling the future of the nation’s youth. According to data from the Ministry of National Education (MEB) for the 2023–2024 academic year, the education system is facing an unprecedented crisis.
The statistics reveal a grim reality where school dropout rates and chronic absenteeism have trickled down to the primary and secondary levels. Specifically, one in ten children at the primary school level is currently out of school, while the figure rises to 23.7% among secondary school students, signaling a breakdown in compulsory education.
Economic contraction fuels the rise of child labor and MESEM controversies
A journalistic investigation into the current educational landscape suggests that schools are increasingly functioning as “child labor recruitment agencies” rather than centers for learning. The Vocational Education Centers (MESEM) have come under intense scrutiny following the tragic death of 16-year-old Mahir Buğra Karagün, who lost his life in a workplace accident on May 1.
Despite these risks, the Ministry continues to promote these programs within Organized Industrial Zones (OSBs). For many families struggling with the purchasing power crisis, these centers represent a desperate financial lifeline, providing cheap labor for industries while the students’ wages are subsidized by the Unemployment Fund.
The data further highlights a staggering rise in absenteeism across all levels of formal education. In general, high schools have an absenteeism rate of 28.1%, rising to 32.1% in Imam Hatip schools and peaking at a massive 40.6% in vocational high schools. These figures suggest that more than 1.5 million children are currently outside the formal schooling system.
Experts warn that as economic contraction persists, the government’s proposals to shorten the duration of compulsory education will only leave more children vulnerable to child labor, early marriages, or exploitation by criminal organizations. The shift from “educational achievement” to “manual labor recruitment” marks a dark chapter in Türkiye’s social development, as the classroom is increasingly traded for the factory floor to combat the rising cost of living.
source: birgun.net
