Student Evaluation
Although student evaluation processes in vocational and technical upper secondary schools are the same as student evaluation in general secondary education, practices that differ according to school types are also specified in the Regulation on Secondary Education Institutions.
Vocational training center students are only given performance points according to their class preparation, attendance, active participation and exemplary behavior (Regulation on Upper Secondary Education Institutions). In case of a change of workplace in vocational training centers although the institution is the same, the points given by the relevant master instructor/training staff in the enterprise where the student received the most practical training during the semester are taken into account in the calculation of the semester points (Regulation on Upper Secondary Education Institutions).
Students who receive vocational education in enterprises take a skills exam in the last week of the school year in order to evaluate their skills training. Students are considered to be on leave by the enterprises during this period. This exam is applied and/or written in accordance with the decision to be taken by the commission according to the nature of the course. In areas with more than one applied course in the curriculum, the skills exam for each course taught in the enterprise can be held together or separately according to the decision of the exam commission. The evaluation of the exams held together is done separately. Taking into account the characteristics of the sector, the working and capacity conditions and the institutional and climatic conditions, the skills exam in vocational fields that are active at certain times of the year and whose skills training period exceeds the duration of the school year is held within the week following the end of the skills training. Skill exams are conducted by a commission consisting of master instructors or training personnel of the enterprise, one of the field / department / workshop / laboratory chiefs of the relevant field, branch teachers and members representing the employer organization in that occupational field / branch. The skills exam score is the sum of the points awarded as a result of the evaluation of the work file and the exam. The skills exam is evaluated over 100 points. Of this, 80 percent is awarded for the exam and 20 percent for the work file. For students who cannot be sent to the enterprise, skills exams are not held from the field / branch courses they receive face-to-face education at school (Regulation on Upper Secondary Education Institutions).
Students attending vocational training centers take the year-end skills exam at the end of each school year starting from the 11th grade. The skills exam taken at the end of the 11th grade is applied as journeyman exam and the skills exam taken at the end of the 12th grade is applied as mastership exam. Journeyman and mastership exams can be held in coordination with the relevant professional chamber by taking the appropriate opinion of the provincial employment and vocational education board. In fields/disciplines where the number of students who will take the exam is high; depending on the characteristics of the field, more than one commission can be established according to the decision to be taken at the class meeting (Regulation on Secondary Education Institutions, Article 46). For students who fail the end-of-year skills exam, the responsibility exams for these courses are held in the form of written and/or practical exams regardless of the work file. Students who fail the journeyman exam are taken to the journeyman exam again in the first responsibility exam period according to the principles of the skills exam (Regulation on Secondary Education Institutions).
The level of realization of the objectives in the education plan prepared for students with special education needs who receive education with their peers is evaluated according to the class passing and examination regulations of the school they attend. However, necessary precautions are taken, and arrangements are made in the exams, taking into account their disability status and characteristics. The evaluation of students in special education schools and classes is based primarily on the achievement of the objectives set in individualized education programs (Decree Law on Special Education).
Succesfull Completion of a Grade Level
In vocational and technical upper secondary schools, although the grade passing conditions of the students are the same as the grade passing conditions in general secondary education, among the students enrolled in vocational training center programs; those who fail to pass the grade directly or responsibly and those who are deemed unsuccessful due to absenteeism repeat the grade. Class repetition is done at most twice. Students who repeat a grade for the third time during the education period are dismissed at the end of the school year and enrolled in Open Education High School, Vocational Open Education High School or Open Education Imam Hatip High School in line with the student and parent’s request (Regulation on Upper Secondary Education Institutions).
Certification
Graduates of vocational and technical upper secondary education institutions are given a diploma according to the type of school they have completed based on the records in the e-Okul/e-Mesem system. Upper Secondary education diplomas are nationally recognized by private and public institutions. The diplomas of vocational and technical Anatolian high school graduates in the field of health are registered by the Ministry of Health. Graduation score and graduation field / branch, if any, are indicated on the diplomas. On the diplomas of graduates of vocational and technical secondary education institutions, the statement “This diploma holder has earned the title of ‘Technician’ in the field / branch in which he / she received education according to Article 3 of Law No. 3795” is written (Regulation on Secondary Education Institutions).
Graduates of Anatolian technical and Anatolian vocational programs are given a certificate with the name specified in the framework curriculum if they successfully complete the elective vocational courses of the certificates specified in the framework curriculum of the field during their education. The certificate is issued by the school directorate where the student graduated through the e-Okul/e-Mesem system. The certificates specified in the framework curriculum of the field are issued only for students studying in the same field / branch (Regulation on Upper Secondary Education Institutions).
Pursuant to Article 70/A of the Regulation on Upper Secondary Education Institutions; Journeyman’s Certificate is issued to the students of the vocational training center program who are successful in the journeyman skill exam and have no failed courses, and Master’s Certificate is issued to those who are successful in the master’s skill exam held at the end of the theoretical and practical training period stipulated in their programs and have no failed courses. Those who have a mastership / workplace opening certificate, a four-year vocational and technical secondary education institution diploma or at least an associate degree diploma can participate in the business pedagogy course opened by schools and institutions. The business pedagogy course can also be organized through distance education and exams can be held in the form of e-exams. Those who successfully complete the course are given a master teacher certificate. The certificate of master-instructor is used together with the certificate of mastery / workplace opening certificate, four-year vocational and technical secondary education institution diploma or at least associate degree diploma. According to Article 69 of the same regulation, those who graduate from secondary education institutions are given a diploma according to the type of school they have completed based on the records in the e-Okul/e-Mesem system. Diplomas are not issued to those who have not completed their internship despite being successful in all courses. In order to receive a diploma, students of vocational training centers, in addition to being entitled to receive a certificate of mastery, must complete the difference courses to be determined by the Ministry through face-to-face education programs to be organized in vocational training centers or open secondary education institutions. Their diplomas are issued by the institution where they complete the difference courses according to the relevant legislation.
Since the 2013-2014 academic year, Europass Certificate Supplements are issued to vocational and technical secondary education graduates for the field/field they graduated from. Europass certificate supplements are published on the National Reference Point website (http://urn.meb.gov.tr), which is the first point of reference for vocational education in Türkiye. In 2017, Europass certificate supplements were also updated in line with the developed or updated curricula. In addition, within the scope of the Credit Transfer System in Vocational and Technical Education (MKTS), which is based on the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), students who graduate from vocational and technical secondary schools are issued a document showing the courses, modules, credits and vocational training in enterprises.
In addition, in accordance with Article 13 of the Special Education Services Regulation, students who complete the special education vocational school or special education application school (level III) program are issued a diploma in accordance with the education program they follow.