The purpose of this research is to examine the process of education in Hakkari throughout history. In
this context, research approaches to processes of pre-school education, primary education, middle
school education, vocational and technical training, and higher education through the republican
history and their present situation. A historical descriptive method was used in the study. Data
concerning Hakkari’s demography and education was conducted through TÜİK. 1923, the year was
taken as the base year and was supported with the data of the process until today.
According to National Education Statistics, Hakkari almost has had just the name of the education
organization for many years. In the Hakkari province, the first primary school was opened in 1925,
the first secondary school in 1945, and the first high school in 1957. Until the opening of boarding
schools in 1965, the dispersed settlement of the villages prevented the students from going to
school, especially in the long winter months the difficult terrain, lack of transportation, and teacher
and school deficiencies made education difficult. The lack of schools, experienced teachers, and
sufficient interest in education by the population due to the socio-economic and socio-cultural
structure of the region have also been the main obstacles to education in Hakkari. This situation,
seen in the early years of the Republican period, began to disappear relatively with the opening
of the first high school in 1957 and the opening of secondary education institutions in the districts
after 1965. However, many steps taken in the name of education have since progressed very slowly
in Hakkari. The fact that the region was heavily influenced by terrorism in the 1990s is undoubtedly
the most fundamental factor of the recent education problems.
The population of Hakkari has steadily increased until today. During the 1923-2019 period, the
population of Turkey increased by 501% while the population of Hakkari increased by 1045%. There
have been significant increases in the education of Hakkari, where population growth has increased
above the Turkish average: The number of students in preschool institutions has increased by
14973% and the number of teachers by 10000%. The increase rate in primary schools is 39373%
in students, 55600% in teachers; the increase rate in secondary schools is 110192% in students,
31350% in teachers; the increase rate in high schools was 13574% in students, 12233% in teachers,
and the increase rate in vocational-technical schools was 2259% in students and 1364% in teachers.
In other words, the number of students per teacher in preschool institutions increased from 40 to
59.9; from 6 to 21 in secondary schools; from 29 to 32.2 in general high schools; from 13.6 to 22.2
Cumhuriyet Döneminde Hakkari’de Eğitim
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in vocational-technical schools. In primary schools, however, it has dropped from 27.5 to 19.5.
According to the available data, there were huge increases in both teacher and student numbers
at all levels of education in Hakkari during this period. Some levels of education balance in terms
of teacher and student growth rates, while in some levels of education serious disproportionations
occurred. The number of teachers employed in preschool institutions, secondary schools, high
schools, and vocational-technical schools lagged behind the increase in the number of students.
This is especially evident in preschool institutions and secondary schools. However, it is pleasing
that the increase in the number of teachers in primary schools is proportionally greater than the
number of students. Accordingly, it is thought that increasing the number of teachers in preschool
institutions, secondary schools, high schools and vocational-technical schools in Hakkari will
contribute significantly to increasing the quality of Education.
During the 1923-2019 period in Hakkari, schooling rates also increased steadily. As of the 2017-
2018 school year, the rate of schooling in preschool at age five reached 66.61%, while the Turkish
average during the same period was 66.88%. While the schooling rate in primary schools is 91.72%,
the Turkish average is 91.54%. The schooling rate in secondary schools is 87.48% while the Turkish
average is 94.47%. While the schooling rate in high schools was 27.49%, the Turkish average was
83.58%. While the schooling rate in vocational-technical schools is 38.29%, the Turkish average is
41.31%. When we look at the rates of schooling in Hakkari, it is seen that schooling in preschool
education and at the level of primary schools is in parallel with the Turkish average, which is pleasing.
While the rates of schooling in preschool and primary schools remained in parallel with Turkey, they
remained below the Turkish average in secondary schools, high schools, and vocational-technical
education. The rate of schooling in vocational high schools in Hakkari is 3 points below the Turkish
average. This is 7 points in secondary schools. The situation in general high schools is quite bad. The
rate of schooling in these schools in Hakkari is 56 points below the Turkish average. Accordingly,
especially at the general high school level, it is thought that a step towards “schooling” will be very
meaningful.
According to findings, in the past 96 years, Hakkari has shown significant increases quantitatively
concerning education levels. The increase in the number of teachers and students at every level is
higher than the growth of the population. There is a balance regarding the increase in student and
teacher numbers in some levels of education, whereas significant disproportion is seen in some
others. Looking at schooling rates in Hakkari, pre-school, and elementary school levels show an
equivalence regarding the average rates in Turkey. However, middle school and in general and
vocational-technical high school levels are found to be lower than the average of Turkey in terms
of educational quality.
