Special Education Teachers and Their Job Finding Times
In recent years, special education teachers Important data has emerged showing that the job search process has accelerated. The 2024 Education Monitoring Report published by the İLKE Foundation Education Policy Research Center (EPAM) has examined the job search times of teaching departments in detail. This report shows that especially special education teaching graduates are employed in a short period of 4,2 months. This period is significantly shorter than English language teaching (7,7 months) and religious culture and ethics teaching (8,8 months) graduates.
Employment Rate of Special Education Teachers
Additionally, special education teachers registered employment rate It has reached a high rate of 96,2%. This situation shows how important the field of special education is in the job market. These developments in the field of education stand out as an important element that attracts the attention of policy makers. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Öz, while evaluating this table, said, “The employment data of education faculty graduates indicate some areas where the supply-demand balance is disrupted. Policy makers need to reconsider both the teacher training process and employment planning in light of this data.”
Student Sense of Belonging and Bullying Issues
Another striking topic in the 2024 Education Monitoring Report is the decline in students' sense of belonging to school. PISA 2022 According to data, Türkiye is among 42 countries in the index of belonging. 41st place. It has been emphasized that students have difficulty establishing an emotional bond with school and that this situation has become especially evident in the post-pandemic period. In addition, it has been observed that the forms of bullying among students have changed. While physical bullying has decreased, psychological bullying such as exclusion and mockery has increased.
Changes in School Climate
The report states that this situation indicates that the sense of social security in the school has weakened. It is also reported that the emotional intelligence levels of the students are low. Turkey is among 32 countries in emotional control. 28th place, among 30 countries in stress resistance 16th place These data clearly show that the education system needs to be reviewed.
Record Increase in Education Budget
The 2024 Education Monitoring Report draws attention with the increase in public resources allocated to education, along with student achievements. Total budget allocated to education as of 2024 1,6 trillion TLThis amount represents a nominal increase of more than 2023% compared to 150. Ministry of National Education (MEB) budget 1,09 trillion TLWhile the budget reached , the resources allocated to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and universities increased by 157%, and the ÖSYM budget increased by 203%.
Transformation from Quantity to Quality in Education
With these increases, the share of education in the central government budget has also increased. The ratio of the MEB budget to GDP increased from 2023% in 1,64 to 2024% in 2,65. This situation provides an important transformation not only financially but also strategically. Directing investments in higher education to infrastructure, academic staff and R&D areas directly affects the quality of education.
Decline in the Number of Students in Higher Education
The number of formal higher education students, which was 2021 million in the 2022-8,3 period, will increase to 2023 million in the 2024-XNUMX period. 7 million level. This decline, especially in undergraduate and associate degree programs, points to an erosion in the perceived value of university education rather than a demographic contraction. However, the international student rate rose to 4,75%, reaching its highest level to date. The decrease in interest from local students and the increase in international students is one of the most striking findings in the field of higher education in 2024.
As a result, while the job search process for special education teachers is accelerating, changes in the education system and investments made on student success will shape Türkiye's future in the field of education. It is of great importance that education policies focus not only on student performance but also on strengthening educational environments and the quality of teaching infrastructure.
