Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Government Programmes - Turkey

Improvement of Young Girls and Women's Education

This literacy project was implemented by the Ministry of National Education. It includes opening reading and writing courses for those in the 7-14 age group who are not attending formal schools and for illiterate individuals above 14 years of age. Course are also provided for those who are literate but without a certificate.

Vocational and Technical Education Development Project

This program includes a new structure for vocational and technical education institutes. Using a modular education system, formal and informal education curricula have been integrated. Girls who have attended formal education but who left at an early stage are given a certificate according to the module in which they trained. This is then followed up by arranging a relevant employment opportunity. Furthermore, women who are not able to attend formal education for various reasons are allowed to choose modules and obtain a certificate according to their own level.

The Ministry of National Education has also started an open high school project which began in the 1994-95 school year, to provide educational opportunities for girls who left school without completing their education and for women of all ages.

Furthermore, training programmes for increasing women's financial literacy levels have been provided. These have been developed in co-operation between the Directorate General on the Status and Problems of Women and the People's Bank (the national SME credit lending bank).

National Program for the Enhancement of Women's Integration in Development Project

This Programme was launched in 1993 by the Directorate General on the Status and Problems of Women (DGSPW) and financed jointly by the Government of Turkey and the United Nations Development Program. The program aims at strengthening the institutional capacities of the DGSPW and is directed towards supporting voluntary and civil organizations' efforts in promoting women's participation in development processes.

Examples of projects under the program include:

1. Research projects (available at the Documentation Center of the DGSPW).
2. Training programs aiming at enhancing women's exercise of their legal rights in daily life.
3. Courses have been in organised to support women in labour syndicates and political parties and help them overcome day to day problems.
4. Training activities, seminars and workshops have targeted the police, court officials, social workers and other civil servants who are in close contact with women in difficult circumstances.
5. The Middle East Technical University Women's Studies degree program was established. Support was given to strengthening women's centres, notably at the Ankara and Istanbul Universities.

After five years of implementation, the program was extended until end 2000.