Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer introduced the details about the employment guaranteed new vocational education program for high school and university graduates.

"As of this month, we will organize a short term vocational education program for high school and university graduates. The program will be organized according to the human resources need of the private sector and it will be disseminated to the entire country," Minister Özer said.

He stressed that the education program will only consist of on the job training.

Minister Özer pointed out that an amendment in the Vocational Education Law No. 3308 lifted the financial obligation of employers in vocational education adding that the salary of students which is equivalent to 30 percent of minimum wage will be paid by the state.

Concerning newly established vocational education centers, Özer noted that people of all ages can enroll in these centers.

"Before the amendment, the number of students enrolled in these centers was 159 thousand and now this figure exceeds 280 thousand," said Özer.

The goal is to enroll 1 million people in these centers within this year

Pointing out that one of the prior goals of the Ministry of National Education is to increase the capacity of vocational education centers and schools, Özer stated that they have been actively working with the private sector within this context.

Özer stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has set a goal to enroll 1 million people in vocational education centers within 2022. 

"We have this potential. Vocational education centers will be established in all organized industrial zones. Small and medium size enterprises will benefit most from this transformation in vocational education," Özer stressed.

Vocational education centers are the equivalent of dual vocational education in Germany

Minister Özer stated that newly opened vocational education centers are the equivalent of dual vocational education in Germany as well as being the modern version of the traditional apprenticeship and vocational training model of the Ottoman era.

People of all ages can apply to vocational education centers

Özer stressed that their goal is to decrease the young unemployment rate adding that, "Amendment made in 2021 marks a historical change. Vocational education centers will provide a fundamental solution in the labor market. People of all ages who are graduates of secondary education can enroll in vocational education centers."