Children First, Autumn 2007: Catch–up Education

Catch–up Education will provide children between 10 and 14 years of age who never enrolled in or attended school or who otherwise missed out on their education the opportunity to complete their primary education by equipping them with the necessary competencies that will enable them to return to school and finish in the appropriate primary school grades. Catch–up Education will enable children to complete the basic stage of their formal education in a class suitable to their age, learning needs and abilities and by means of a condensed curriculum.

The need in this area emerged during the process of drafting the Child Protection Law of 2005 and also during the course of the UNICEF–supported Haydi Haydi Kızlar Okula! girls’ education campaign. Director General of Primary Education, İbrahim Er, who is responsible for the preparation of the Catch–up Education Programme at the Ministry of National Education (MONE), explains:

Catch–up Education programmes are not new to Turkey. There have been several in different forms at different times. However, the current Programme was deemed necessary to ensure the schooling of children who have missed out or been deprived of access to primary education for any number of reasons.

Although he wouldn’t say precisely how many students will be included within the scope of the Catch–up Education Programme, Mr. Er stressed that the potential benefits of the Programme, in providing 10–14 year–olds with the opportunity to finish their basic education, were enormous: whatever the social problems or issues that block a child’s access to school, it is essential that all children have access to education.

Mr. Er defines the basic principles of class practices under the Catch–up Education Programme:

• Each student is prepared for placement in the appropriate primary school grade — although the Programme does not grant any form of diploma, it enables the student to re–enter the primary education system.
• Subject to an assessment of his or her level of preparedness, the student can be transferred to a programme that is suitable to his or her age and level of educational attainment.
• A student can begin Catch–up Education at any time, continuing classes until the end of the school year.
• Special attention is given to ensuring that students who have been admitted to Catch–up Education are kept in the school environment for as long as possible.

Mr. Er points out that Catch–up Education should not be seen as an alternative to the existing education system and that any such misconception should be avoided. He also explains that the Programme and guidelines for transition to primary school are structured flexibly, are gender–sensitive and designed to meet the needs of the target group in a way that encourages their attendance to primary education. The curriculum has been prepared in the field by a group of teachers and academics in order to ensure that it is compatible with the current primary education curriculum.

Preparation of the educational materials and implementation manual are underway and the Programme is pending approval by the Education Board. Regarding approval, Director General Er says:

We expect approval shortly, so that we can speed up finalisation of the Programme.

Emphasising that the Catch–up Education Programme has been prepared with an inclusive approach and that it is very important to raise public awareness on this matter, Mr. Er says that we must ensure ownership of this matter.

Since there is a strong relationship between ownership and success, MONE is keen to promote dialogue on the Programme between stakeholders. Mr Er says that since many partners and stakeholders working in the education sector — including NGOs, school directors, public officials, teacher unions — are assuming responsibility with regard to the issue, it is important to see how school staff will actively implement the Programme and interpret its aims in the process.

Director General Er says that there were some concerns at the beginning of the process that the Programme might be perceived as an alternative to the formal education system, and as such it might be subject to abuse in certain quarters. However, he emphasises that these concerns have been allayed and that the public is now ready for the Catch–up Education Programme. Really important outcomes are expected from the Programme, according to Mr. Er, but nevertheless it will be important to ensure feedback during the implementation phase and to maintain public awareness of the Programme in order to achieve success.

Stressing that the latest enrolment figures for primary education are very positive, the Director General concludes reiterates his view that Catch–up Education is essentially a temporary measure:

Our objective is to ensure that the Catch–up Education Programme is needed for only a limited time and that the need for this Programme will decrease as enrolment rates accordingly increase, which of course will be a very satisfying outcome for our country. The Catch–up Education Programme currently under preparation will contribute to achieving our target of 100% enrolment and completion in primary education.

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