The Ministry of National Education continues to disseminate vocational education centers and make contributions to the improvement of employment rates. Within this framework, the Ministry made an amendment in the Vocational Education Law No. 3308 in December, 2021. Following the amendment, both employers and students showed intense interest to vocational education institutions. Number of students enrolled in vocational education centers which was 159,000 reached 502,000 in the first five months of 2022. This figure is half of the goal set by the Ministry to enroll 1 million students in the vocational education center until the end of 2022.

 

The amendment stipulates that students enrolled in vocational education centers will get a monthly 1,276 liras salary and after the 3rd grades students become foremen and start to receive 2,126 liras monthly salary. These salaries are paid by the state. Moreover, students are insured against occupational illnesses and accidents. Employment rate of graduates are around 88 percent. There is no age limit in the vocational education centers.

 

Beauty and hair care department of the vocational education centers ranked first in the list of most preferred departments of vocational education centers. 73,264 students enrolled in beauty and hair care departments while 62,713 students enrolled in motor vehicle technology and 44,479 students enrolled in food and beverage services. Electrical electronic technology and fashion design technology are also among the most favorite departments.

 

Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer stated that amendment in the Vocational Education Law turned vocational education into an attractive mechanism for both students and employers and marked the beginning of a new era in raising the quality of human resources required in the labor market.

 

Noting that the amendment was a historical step for the improvement of employment rates in the country, Özer said, "Interest to vocational education centers increased rapidly after the amendment. Within five months of this year, the number of students enrolled in vocational education centers increased by 300 percent. We are aiming at enrolling 1 million students in these centers until the end of 2022. We consider vocational and technical education as a strategic matter for the future of Türkiye."