Türkiye
The European Training Foundation (ETF) cooperates with and complements the work of the European Commission and the European External Action Service, including responding to requests from the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, contributing to the EU-Türkiye bilateral policy dialogue.
The ETF is actively supporting the implementation of actions in the Osnabrück Declaration in the region, in close cooperation with its sister agency Cedefop. The Osnabrück Declaration sets out policy actions for the 2021–25 period, in support of the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. The national implementation plan for Türkiye describes how the country plans to address EU priorities and achieve its national objectives in VET.
The ETF also gives input to EU policy monitoring mechanisms on VET, employment and social inclusion including an annual assessment of Türkiye’s Economic Reform Programme, and wider human capital developments reported in the Torino Process. It supports sector policy dialogue and donor coordination.
The ETF supports Turkish institutions and stakeholders in the rolling out of Türkiye’s Education Vision 2023 for the technical VET (TVET) and lifelong learning sectors, employment, work-based learning quality assurance framework including the cost-benefit analysis of apprenticeships, the Turkish Qualifications Framework and the validation of non-formal learning, and skills for the future in certain sectors.
The ETF provides expertise and collaborates closely with public/private institutions in human resources development in the country, including an interinstitutional high-level public-private steering group, operationally strategic national coordination structures and technical working groups.
Read our 2024 update on Key policy developments in education, training and employment (ETF, 2024). For a quick overview, see below:
2024 developments at a glance
🏛️Legislation and policy reform: the priorities of the government included addressing economic and fiscal challenges, as well as advancing relief and reconstruction efforts following the 2023 earthquake. Aid from international partners, including the EU Solidarity Fund, continued to support the rebuilding of hospitals, schools, and housing;
👩🎓 Educational initiatives and policies: the Ministry of National Education implements policies to expand access to education and enhance its quality. Efforts focus on increasing participation in both pre-primary and post-primary education, with a strong emphasis on inclusion. It is hoped that gender disparities in primary education will further decline as a result;
🏫 Vocational education and training (VET): the Education Vision 2030 and the Mid-term Programme 2024-2026 focus on improving VET through curricula, improved digital content, technology transfer and innovation, and the expansion of Centres of Vocational Excellence. Efforts include modernising teacher training, enhancing inclusion, and strengthening industry-education collaboration. With 3.8 million Syrian refugees still in the country, VET also supports labour market integration;
🛠️ Work-based learning (WBL): Türkiye focuses on employer engagement and apprenticeship programmes at both the national and local levels, with employers' associations playing a key role in skills development. WBL is a crucial component of the system, offering opportunities ranging from short-term holiday placements to full-time in-company training;
💼 Labour market developments: the country faces a significant skills mismatch, underscoring the need for stronger links between secondary education and job market demands. Structural reforms to boost women's employment and participation might best include improved childcare support and welfare incentives;
👦 👧 Youth in focus: almost half of the population is under the age of 30. While the number of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) decreased from 27.2% in 2023 to 25.8% in 2024, women faced greater barriers to finding a job, with nearly twice as many female NEETs as males. The National Youth Employment Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023 and the Twelfth Development Plan (2024-2028) set out measures to tackle youth unemployment and reduce the NEET rate to below 20%;
💻 Digital skills development: the participation in the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe is strengthening technology, innovation, and industry-education collaboration. New digital innovation hubs are being established to support small- and medium-sized enterprises, while digital tools in education and teacher training are expanding. The Ministry of National Education is rolling out an enhanced version of EU’s Selfie digital skills tool;
📈 Pisa results and trends – Türkiye is among the few countries whose PISA results have improved over the past decade. In 2022, scores remained largely stable in mathematics, declined slightly in reading, and improved in science compared to 2018.
Priorities for 2025
👉 Next steps have been taken to ensure the proper functioning of the Turkish Qualifications Framework and Turkish Higher Education Quality Council.
👉 Strengthen inclusive education efforts, prioritising support for girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds while actively monitoring progress and implementing targeted strategies to reduce school dropout rates.