"No to ÖSS!" - Student Union Protests Against University Exam

This Sunday (14 June) will witness around 1.4 million young people in Turkey hurrying to schools in order to sit the ÖSS, the annual central university entrance exam which decides, in three hours, whether or not a pupil can go to university.

Many young people  sit the exam several times, either because they are unsuccessful, or because they cannot achieve the points to study the subject of their choice. Many have to resign themselves to studying a course they did not choose.

Ulaş Taştekin of the Student Youth Union Genç-Sen, has expressed criticism of the exam, arguing that the ÖSS ignored the talents of young people and did not contribute to the personal development of young people.

Not "choice" but "elimination"

Contrary to its name (the "Student Choice Exam"), Taştekin argues, the exam does not "choose" but "eliminate" students. Members of the union have called for education that is free, without exams, equal and which focuses on the skills of young people. The union also supports education in first languages other than Turkish.

Of the 1.4 million people sitting the exam, only 400,000 people will be able to enter graduate programmes and colleges of further education. The other 1.1 million will have to try their luck again next year, together with the school leavers of 2010.

Taştekin pointed out that the success rate of exam takers who did not prepare with cram courses or private lessons was low, meaning that the exam did not offer equal chances to everyone.

Even of those who achieve placement in university, one in five sat the exam again, so Taştekin, because they had not been placed in the subject they wanted. Others, who could not face sitting the exam again, continued to study courses they did not want to be in. (BÇ/AG)