School

In Turkey there is eight years of compulsory education. After this there is the opportunity of continuing at either a technical or a regular high school for three years. If after high school children want to go to university, they have to pass further national examinations.
In 2003 parliament agreed that education and books should be free for the first eight years. After that pupils must pay for their own books and other materials. School uniform, which families have to pay for themselves, must be worn.
In Turkey there is no government financial support for students at universities and so many have to take jobs during term time or during the three month summer break. The Turkish way of learning is very much based on cramming and often there is no room for freethinking or creativity.