The data regarding the applications before the exams, in which the regulation to remove the passing scores at the entrances to universities, which caused controversy in the past months, will be applied, was shared with the public.
Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Education, Educational Sciences Lecturer Prof. Dr. Selahattin Turan, who evaluated our newspaper regarding the 2022 Higher Institutions Examination (YKS) applications, the highest number of applications of all time, according to the data, stated that higher education in Turkey has ceased to be a strategic field.
"Higher education carries the risk of evolving into higher school," he said.
"APPLICATIONS INCREASED BY 25 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE LAST YEAR"
According to the data shared with the public by the Head of the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), Prof. Dr. Halis Aygün, applications for university exams increased by 25 percent compared to the previous year.
"The number of 2022-YKS candidates increased by 24.36 percent compared to last year, with an increase of 635,522 candidates. While the number of candidates applying to 2021-YKS was 2 million 607,903, 3 million 243 thousand 425 candidates applied to 2022-YKS this year," it was stated.
While sharing the data on the applicants' situation, Aygün said, "The number of candidates who are in the last year of high school is 923 thousand 37 (28.23 percent), while the number of candidates who have graduated from high school and have not been placed in a higher education program is 1 million 556 thousand 730 (47.99 percent). The number of candidates placed or registered in a higher education program is 389 thousand 823 (12.27 percent), while the number of candidates who graduated from a higher education program is 293 thousand 136 (9.03 percent). The number of candidates whose registration was canceled from the higher education institution and who applied for the exam is 80 thousand 699 (2.48 percent)."
“EVERYONE WANTS TO GET A DIPLOMA BUT THE QUALITY IS DAMAGED”
Prof. Dr. Selahattin Turan pointed out that the main reason for the record increase in the number of applications was the removal of the passing scores in the Higher Institutions Examination.
"Applications have increased so much with the decision to remove the threshold, which was taken as a result of the pressure of the universities, which was an appropriate decision for the policies of mass higher education, that is, for everyone to graduate from university, but the quotas were not filled. Higher education in Turkey has ceased to be a strategic field. Higher education institutions risk abandoning their duties and evolving into higher high schools. The fact that there are 3 million applications paves the way for mass education, but this will cause an increase in youth unemployment in the future," he added.
“390,000 ACTIVE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS APPLY TO THE EXAM”
Evaluating the situation of the applicants, Turan emphasized that the data reveal the situation of young people.
"Among the applicants, there are current university students, as well as those who have never been placed in a program before, as well as senior high school students. Anxiety about finding a job, getting seniority, etc. For many reasons, many people want to get a university degree in some way. But this affects the quality. According to the data, the number of candidates placed or registered in a higher education program is 389 thousand 823, and the number of candidates graduating from a higher education program is 293 thousand 136. In total, about 700 thousand students want to change the department they studied or graduated from because of the concerns they experienced," he said.