America's and Turkey's Education System

Every culture has its own education system.Education systems’ aim is to increase the society’s development level.When education system is created,it depends on the country’s cultural and ethical features.So between the countries education systems there are some differences and similarities.l want to compare America’s and Turkey’s education systems with their good sides and bad sides.There are three differences such as the structure of education system,the process of education and a way of being a university student.ln addition the only similarity is the aim of their education.
The first difference is the structure of education.”Turkey’s education system is central compared to America’s local education system.”(Balcı(1998),p.51)ln Turkey all the schools’ curricula are determined by Ministry and they are the same.So in Turkey education is given the students more equally than in America.ln local education system;education and curricula can change according to every province.ln this respect equal education can’t be provided exactly.
Second difference is when we compare the process of education in America it’s longer than Turkey.”Compulsory education is eight years in Turkey.On the other hand it is twelve years in America”(Balcı(1998)p.51)The longer you get education,the more beneficial it is for you.A web site link is provided by Process of Education in the United States of America (www.ed.gov) gives that “it also helps the students’ total development sucs as physical well-being and motor development,social and emotional development.”
The third difference is that after compulsory education students have to take a university exam for further education in Turkey.But it’s just the opposite in America where students don’t have to sit a university exam.ln Turkey in order to have a good future at least you should graduate from a university.So this affects students so much.They focus their all life on exams.Students are not able to decide logically.But in Americe every university determines it itself.There aren’t any exams.Students choose a university which is suitable for them and the universities choose the best students according to their qualities and abilities.
The only similarity is these two countries’ aim in education.Both of them are based on equal and free education.Governments support the schools and students.Without discrimination everybody has individual value.(Balcı(1998),p.49)
After comparing these two countries,l learn the three differences and the only one similarity .America and Turkey are very important countries for the world.But America is more developed than in Turkey.From here l infer that development level depends on a country’s education level.




REFERENCES

Archived information Progress of Education in the United States od America.Retrieved December 10,2007 from the World Wide Web :http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Prog95/pt1org.html

Balcı Ali.(1998).Karşılaştırmalı Eğitim Sistemleri (2nd ed.).Ankara