A cooperation protocol was signed between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of National Defense in order to train the qualified manpower needed by the defense industry, to certify the employees and to ensure the employment of students graduating from specified schools within the bounds of possibilities.  

 

Speaking at the protocol signing ceremony held at the MEB Headteacher Hall, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin stated that they have made a serious effort to raise awareness about vocational high schools in the last twelve or thirteen years. Stating that they have been making efforts to develop vocational high schools in line with the needs of the sector and new business areas since 2014, Minister Tekin stated that they have made serious arrangements regarding vocational high schools in this context. Stating that they aim to ensure that students do not stay in theoretical education but also engage in practice, Minister Tekin said that they prioritize creating the needed workforce. Emphasizing that making vocational high schools attractive to students who do not prefer vocational high schools is another priority, Minister Tekin also said that they are making an effort to provide guidance to these students.

 

Reminding that in 2014, they legislated to provide support at the rate of one third and fifty percent of the minimum wage to students who want to receive training at the workplace, Minister noted that vocational high schools have reached a certain format and that they have started to create thematic vocational high schools in almost every field needed by the sector. Emphasizing that the cooperation they will make today is a part of these motivational elements, Minister Tekin said that they will take steps together to provide the personnel needed in this sense.

 

Tekin thanked Minister Güler for their cooperation in the field of vocational education. 

 

Drawing attention to the importance of the work done on vocational high schools in his speech, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said that, as the Ministry of National Defense, he was present today to sign the protocol in order to open the vocational high schools, the foundations of which were laid in 2014, to serve the institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Defense. Stating that vocational high schools will make a significant contribution in terms of providing services with the professional people they need, Minister Güler underlined that they will make every effort to provide the highest level of education in the vocational high schools they will establish with the contribution of the Ministry of National Education and to broaden the horizons of students in every subject.

 

Minister Güler noted that the labor market should give the necessary importance to vocational high schools in order to meet the qualified manpower needs of all sectors in Türkiye.

 

Stating that the sector's excuse for not being able to find personnel has disappeared in terms of the human resources trained by vocational high schools, Minister Güler thanked Minister Tekin for his cooperation.

 

The protocol prepared after the speeches was signed by Minister Yusuf Tekin and Minister Yaşar Güler. 

 

The protocol aims to support the training and employment of qualified manpower needed by the defense industry in schools to be determined in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of National Defense or in schools to be opened in facilities to be allocated by the Ministry of National Defense. 

 

The protocol includes the opening of schools on the Ministry of National Defense campus or in the facilities allocated by the Ministry of National Defense, the delivery of completed schools to the Ministry of National Education and their integration into education and training, and the preparation of certificate programs and face-to-face/digital education materials in the field education programs in line with the needs of the Ministry of National Education. The protocol also includes organizing on-the-job in-service training for field teachers, equipping workshops or laboratories based on new technologies, and giving workshop/laboratory courses by experts together with teachers.

 

The protocol also includes providing students with workshop and laboratory training and vocational training/internship opportunities in workplaces of General Directorate of Military Factories (AFGM), TGM and Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), scholarships in line with the determined criteria, and training material. The protocol aims to provide students who graduate from schools training within the bounds of possibilities in accordance with the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry of National Defense. The protocol covers issues such as providing support for employment and organizing awareness activities for vocational and technical education.