ANKARA: UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS AND STUDENT APPLICATIONS IN 2024
Decrease in University Entrance Exam Applications in Turkey Indicates Societal Transformations
It seems there's a widespread belief that the number of student applicants for Turkey's nationwide university entrance exam has dropped significantly in 2024, with reports indicating a decrease of 560,000 applicants compared to last year. However, it's essential to delve deeper into the issue, as it appears there might be a misunderstanding here.
While there's indeed a recorded drop, it's essential to clarify that this drop is in comparison to the exceptionally high number of applicants in 2023. In 2024, the number of applicants stands at 2,560,640, which, when compared to the "norm," seems lower. But when you consider the record-breaking figure of over 3.1 million applicants in 2023, it's hardly a startling decline, especially by 560,000 applications.
Educational expert Cihan Yes̆ilyurt attributes this apparent decline to several overlapping trends. One of the main drivers is the growing preference among Turkish students to study abroad, a trend that was previously confined mainly to students from foreign-language high schools. Now, students from private and vocational high schools are also expressing interest in studying overseas.
For instance, the number of 12th-grade students who applied for the exam dropped from over 1 million in 2023 to 831,000 in 2024. Some high schools aren't graduating students this year, a situation attributed to the reintroduction of preparatory years.
Another factor contributing to the reported decrease is Turkey’s “4+4+4” education model. This model, introduced in 2012, divides schooling into three sequential four-year phases, resulting in younger children starting school at age five. As a temporary increase in 12th-grade students occurred in 2024 due to this shift, the 2025 candidate pool is expected to drop by about 270,000.
Other factors could include rising accommodation costs and exam fees making university attendance more challenging. Unemployment among graduates hovers around 25%, which may discourage students who fear they won't find jobs even with degrees. Meanwhile, trades such as plumbing, hairstyling, and carpentry often yield better incomes.
However, it's worth noting that official or widely reported data does not corroborate this significant decrease in applications for Turkey's university entrance exams in 2024. It’s critical to consider factors like demographic shifts, economic conditions, policy changes, or increased interest in alternative education pathways (like vocational training) when examining trends in university entrance exam applicants.
So, while it's true that there's been a drop in the number of applicants compared to the record-breaking year of 2023, it's essential to approach this trend cautiously and seek accurate, up-to-date information to draw valid conclusions.
Learning and education-and-self-development are crucial factors in understanding the decrease in university applications in Turkey for the 2024 entrance exams. The shift in student preferences towards foreign education and trades may be contributing to the drop, as evidenced by a decrease in 12th-grade students applying and a rise in applications for vocational training.
