Education as a Building Block for a Nation

Malcolm X once said that “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare it for today.” As he highlights, education is the only insurance of a nation to have a bright future. Every nation can overcome political corruption or inflation with precise guidance; however, to shape an education system takes time. A nation needs a new educated generation to overcome systematic deterioration - estimated time is 22 years. It is also an issue to educate those children when the government does not have a community of teachers who are equipped and efficient. Therefore, governments should be careful when implementing new education systems and also choosing people who manage the system. 

In Turkiye, there are a lot of speculations that the period of compulsory education (K-12 System) is under observation. Competents from the Ministry of Education underscores that the compulsory four years of high school education can be reduced to three years. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, in 2023, 48.3% of 25 years old and above Turkish people finished compulsory education, illustrating that half of Turkish adults have not yet finished their compulsory education. This demonstrates the urgency of education for Gen Z as Turkish society becomes less educated compared to the other country’s new generations.

Reduction of the duration of high school education from four to three years may have serious negative effects on the quality of education. First, it may increase the dropout rate. When the students are unable to deal with the more compact curriculum, they would lose hope and leave school. This would be a problem for Turkey, as the high school graduation rate is already a problem. In addition, this increased need for faster learning could further widen the gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students as the latter would be in a better position to adapt to the shorter period, while the former could fall behind. In addition, this change would compromise the international educational competitiveness of Turkey. Shortening the duration of school is not a priority most nations follow; most focus on more access to education as well as a greater improvement in quality. Cutting short high school education without a clear strategy could lower the preparedness of students for college and work, ultimately hampering the country's long-run growth.

In conclusion, whether education is compulsory or not, parents should not think a minute about whether to send their children to school or not. If people are looking for a bright future, they must recognize the significance of education as they will be their next generation to control the government.