B. EXISTING GENERAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN TURKEY-
Refer to Figure 1 for the existing general education system in Turkey. Pre-school education starts at the Nursery between the ages 0-2. Kindergarten education is given between the ages 2-6. Classical Primary School is for five years between the ages 6 to 11 which is run by the state, free of charge and is mandatory. Then, pupils attend to a Junior High school for 3 years between 11-14 years old. The very new system is an 8 year education (a combination of Primary + Junior High School) which is compulsory till the age of 14. Pupils attend to High School run by the state, free of charge between 14-17 years old. Sometimes either before Junior High or High School, they attend to a full year of Foreign Language (mainly English) preparatory class which enables them to attend the University at the age of 18.
In Turkey there are 73 state and privately run (approximately 20) Universities. The quality of education differs enormously from one another. Istanbul Technical University is one of the top 4-5 Universities in Turkey. Every year almost 1.5 Million High School Graduates take a General Entrance Exam for the universities. Depending on their success, they are placed in Universities of one of their 22 choices. As an average only 500,000 High School Graduates can be offered places in Universities, the rest having to take the exam next year. To attend to a top University, one must be placed in the top 10-15% of the 1.5 Million High School Graduates.
For Example, Istanbul Technical University has 11 Faculties. To enter to Faculties Like Industrial, Electrical (computer) Engineering; one must be in the top 1-2% where as the Faculty of Mines and Ores accept students from the top 15%, ITUMF students come from the top 8-10%.
Students without proficiency in Languages, they attend to a one year Language Preparatory class before they start to their normally 4 year University Undergraduate program. Only disciplines like Medicine, Veterinary science etc.. are for six years. Students graduate from the University at the age of 22-24.
