Research

For ERI, research constitutes the backbone of evidence-based policy-making processes. Since its founding, ERI has conducted and commissioned a considerable number of research projects in cooperation with various stakeholders on a wide range of issues that correspond to the education reform priorities in Turkey.

Major Research Activities

  • Monitoring the State of Education in Turkey

In 2008, ERI published “Education Monitoring Report 2007”, which reviewed the state of education in Turkey since the transition to eight-year compulsory education in 1997. The report also offered recommendations on areas where further improvement was required. Education Monitoring Reports 2008 and 2009 provided an overview and assessed developments that took place in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In addition to an overview of 2010 developments, Education Monitoring Report 2010 also introduced a set of indicators, which will facilitate systematic monitoring of education for various stakeholders.

 

  • Bilingualism and Education

Within the framework of Rights in Education Project, the "Bilingualism and Education" workshop was organized on 16-17 October 2009. The workshop aimed to discuss and develop potential solutions for problems faced by children whose mother tongues are a language other than Turkish and who therefore have negative experiences in access to education, quality in education and life accomplishments.
Bilingualism and Education Report prepared by Dr. Müge Ayan Ceyhan and Dilara Koçbaş and published in November 2009, states that it is not bilingualism but rather the absence of educational policies which would have allowed children to realize their potentials and establish a high quality educational environment that act as obstacles for bilingual children. The policy note that followed the report also outlined fundamental steps for sustainable solutions. 
The policy note titled Bilingualism and Education in Turkey: Steps Towards Sustainable Solutions was published on December 8, 2010. In this note ERI presented a literature review on studies about children whose first languages are other than Turkish and who therefore have problems with access to education, attendance and success in education, highlighting the benefits of bilingualism for children.

  • Policy Recommendations on Inclusive Education

Co-implemented with Tohum Autism Foundation, the project aims to strengthen the quality of inclusive/integrated education in Turkey. In addition to the inclusive education model developed and piloted by Tohum Autism Foundation, three reports were prepared by ERI. The first report which presents a situation analysis was published on March 7, 2011. The second report was published in October 2011, and brought together national and international good practices. The final report, which included policy recommendations based on the evaluation study findings on the pilot model, was published on November 2011.

In cooperation with the Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Primary Education and UNICEF, ERI has conducted three research projects to analyze the dynamics of access to and attendance in education, social and economic determinants of transition to secondary education, and the financial management of primary school institutions.

  • e-School System Analysis

The e- School system and other census data will be reviewed in order to identify gaps and opportunities in building evidence on economic data on student enrollment, attendance, achievement, progression and completion. Once the system is revised, the research team will conduct a test analysis and develop a methodology for an in-depth regional analysis.

  • Analysis of Transition from Primary to Secondary Education

e-School data and Household Budget Surveys will help build evidence for the analysis of transition from primary to secondary education. Economic and social factors will be reviewed to identify the main determinants of transition and to evaluate further policy implications, especially with regards to their significance for national development strategies.

  • Assessment of Financial Management of Primary Education Institutions

The assessment will include evidence on the key factors behind budget making decisions in Turkey, their repercussions on school management and school representatives' opinions regarding current budgeting processes. A series of key interviews and focus group discussions with different school staff as well as Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS) will be used for the assessment.

  • Mid-Term Review of the Catch-Up Education Program

Implemented by the Ministry of National Education and launched in November 2008, the Catch-Up Education Program targets children of ages 10-14 who had never enrolled in primary education, dropped out, or were at least three years behind their peers. Through accelerated education programs, it supports them in continuing their education with students in their own age group. ERI has prepared the mid-term review of the program.

  • Right to Education and Rights in Education: National Legislation in Light of International Human Rights Documents

As part of the Rights in Education project, national legislation on the right to education was evaluated in light of international human rights documents and Turkey's obligations deriving from ratified international conventions. A compilation consisting of five thematic reports written by experts was published in 2009.

  • Monitoring the Rights in Education at the Local Level

A compilation of rights-based indicators was developed in order to provide community-based organizations with a tool to systematically monitor children's rights in education at the provincial level. After the indicators are revised with contributions from different stakeholders, the compilation will be disseminated as part of a guidebook.

  • Equity in Education

Evidence-Based Advocacy for the Promotion of Equity in Education in Turkey Project was launched in June 2008 with the support of Open Society Institute. The project's main objective was to offer insight on the causes of disparities in education and to develop recommendations towards their eradication. The report titled “Equity in Education: Policy Analysis and Recommendations” presents the scope and causes of the disparities in primary and secondary education.

 

  • Curriculum Reform

ERI was actively involved in the curriculum reform process led by the Board of Education. A Curriculum Review Commission was formed by ERI to evaluate the new curriculum. The Commission published an evaluation report in 2005. The collaboration between ERI and the Board of Education took many forms, ranging from workshops to organizing events such as the International Curriculum Conference in June 2005.

  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)

In 2006, ERI collaborated with the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation to publish two policy-oriented research documents: “Skills, Competencies and Vocational Education: Policy Analysis and Recommendations” and “Skills, Competencies and Vocational Education: Financing Structure and Policy Recommendations.” The research underscored the need to restructure vocational education and training in Turkey and identified policy approaches with potential to improve the quality of vocational education. In December 2010, ERI started a policy-oriented research project with Koç Holding for the improvement of partnerships between vocational schools and the private sector in Turkey. The project focused on the current state of vocational education in Turkey, international trends in life-long learning, private sector partnerships with potential to enhance the quality of vocational education, and achievements and shortcomings of vocational schools for girls.

  • Sector Studies

ERI partnered with the World Bank for “Turkey: Education Sector Study.” Several papers drafted during the first phase of the study were discussed by academics and NGO representatives in workshops organized by ERI. The final report was published in 2006. Another sector study called “Demographics, Education, and New Perspectives towards 2025” was carried out by ERI in 2006 and examined the demographic opportunity argument in depth. ERI was also the facilitator for the “Working Group on Education and Manpower” that authored the report presented at the IVth Turkish Congress in 2004.