Going ‘private' in education costs Turkey $6 billion

A report published by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) shows that citizens spend a total of TL 16 billion ($6.13 billion) on private education and training.

Preschoolers going to private day-care centers form 17 percent of the total. The rate drops to 3.3 percent among primary school students and 5 percent among high school students.

The report showed that among those who attended private schools and courses, 31 percent went to supportive courses, 28 percent went to driving courses, 17 percent went to private schools.

The high number of students attending supportive courses is tied to the increasing demand for university exam preparation courses, said the report.

It also said that of all the money spent for private schools, 43 percent went to private schools, 20 percent to supportive courses and 8 percent to rehabilitation centers.

The average annual private school tuition was TL 10,000, but the price differed between cities and even districts within cities. Especially in Istanbul, private school tuition can reach astronomical levels, said the report.

Focus on education had increased in recent years, said TOBB, with families sacrificing a lot to pay for tuitions. It suggested the government to find a way to allow parents to find affordable educational opportunities for their children without an added burden to the state.

In addition to the TL 16 billion spent on private schools, citizens also spend an added TL 8 billion on shuttle busses and food, the report said.

The 2014 budget of the Education Ministry is TL 56 billion including new investments.