3.6.2. Conservatories
Conservatories are higher education institutions that train music and drama artists as per the Law no 2547.
In the academic year 1999-2000, 3.400 students (1.700 females, 1.600 males) were educated and 615 instructors were employed in 14 conservatories working under universities.

3.6.3. Application and Research Centers
As per the Law no 2547, application and research centers are higher education institutions that meet the practical needs in several areas in order to support the education- training in higher education institutions and that carry out education-training, application and research for the preparation and support activities in some vocational areas. There are no students being educated in these centers.

Not included in these figures are
* 1.130 instructors working in other education institutions (Military Schools, Gevher Nesibe Health Education Institute and Kayseri Health Education Institute),
** 143.220 pregraduate students in Open Education
*** 372.363 graduate students in Open Education
RESOURCE: The Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Higher Education

RESOURCE: The Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Higher Education

RESOURCE: The Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Higher Education

4. NON-FORMAL EDUCATION
Paralel to the rapid changes in society, the notion that the essential education is given in schools is also changing. In line with that notion, the Ministry of National Education is making rearrangements in the goals, programs and organizations of the school system, focusing on the development, expansion and restructuring of the non-formal learning and education system within continuing education and shifting the focus of education from formal to continuing education.

In 16 non-formal education institutions working under the Ministry of National Education, service of various types and nature are provided to people of all ages.
Non-formal education institutions include
Public training centers
Apprenticeship training centers
Practical schools of art for girls
Maturation institutes
Vocational education centers
Technical training centers for adults
Education and application schools
Private classes
Private courses
Industrial practical schools of art
Science and art centers
Open primary education
Open high schools
Vocational and technical open schools

RESOURCE: The Ministry of Education Research, Planning and Coordination Board
* Indicated across the vocational school they are working under
** Not including the number of institutions and teachers opened by the Vocational and Technical Schools and Non-formal Education Institutions

4.1. PUBLIC TRAINING
The majority of the education activities outside the formal education framework are carried out in 922 public training centers. In these centers, the following courses are given to citizens of all ages and education levels;

- Literacy courses
- Vocational courses
- Socio-cultural courses
- Socio-cultural practices

4.1.1. Literacy Courses
These are courses aimed at teaching literacy to adults who have not attended primary school for some reason and do not know how to read and write. Between 1997-2001 579.000 people have attended literacy courses. Sufficient number of reading books, workbooks and teachers' guides for literacy courses are published and delivered to the areas where needed.

4.1.2. Vocational Courses
As per article 37 of the Vocational Education Law no 3308, the Ministry of National Education is organizing vocational courses in order to prepare the people who have left the formal education system and do not possess the qualifications required for employment for any vacant positions in the business sector. In vocational courses, if practical training is given in the workplaces, the working principles for the participants are defined in a protocol to be signed between the school or training center and the workplace. Based on apprenticeship training programs, the Ministry of National Education pays the insurance premiums against occupational accidents, sicknesses during the

4.1.3. Social Cultural Courses
Social cultural courses are opened in public training centers in various areas in order to promote, maintain and expand cultural values and to provide citizens with the information they need in general education subjects. Courses in about 700 different branches have been opened in vocational-technical and social-cultural areas, and types of courses depend on regional characteristics.

4.1.4. Social and Cultural Applications
In public training centers, apart from courses, activities such as seminars, exhibitions, meetings, competitions, symposiums, panels, signature days, bazaars, ceremonies, etc. are also organized. These activities may be attended by people other than the course participants and about 5 million people per annum take benefit of such activities as participants or visitors.

4.2.2. Training of Apprentices
People who work in the 109 branches mentioned in the Law no 3308, have finished primary education and are above the age of 14 and below the age of 19 may receive training as apprentices. The Law no 4702 gives apprenticeship training opportunity to those over 19. The period of apprentice training changes between 2-4 years depending on the nature of vocations. Upon completion of this training, experienced apprenticeship certificate is given to those who pass the related exam. During this training, people attend vocational training centers one day each week to receive theoretical training. It is compulsory to receive apprenticeship training for the adolescents who work in cities and jobs covered by the apprenticeship training application. The weekly schedule applied in apprenticeship periods varies with the type of profession. The general knowledge courses in apprenticeship training are common in all vocational branches.

4.2.3. Training of Experienced Apprentices (Proficiency Courses)
Those who have acquired the qualifications of an experienced apprentice take proficiency courses in vocational training centers in order to acquire the required qualifications to improve themselves vocationally and to open a workplace of their own. Proficiency training aims to measure whether the experienced apprentice is able to independently apply the knowledge, skills and working habits needed to be a master in his/her job according to the acceptable standards of producing goods and services.
2. General or vocational-technical training given through the non-formal education system to the citizens who have not attended the formal education system, left the system at any stage or completed his/her education.
Adolescents who have not attended the formal education system or left the system at any stage may take the experienced apprenticeship exam after 1 year of adaptation training, provided they had reached the age of 16 at the date when the said profession was included in the coverage of law. Those at the age of 18 may directly take the experienced apprenticeship exam, if a certificate is provided to prove that he/she is working in the related profession.
Those who owned a workplace and worked there as master before the date of the Law may directly apply to obtain their proficiency certificates.
Employees are given the EXPERIENCED APPRENTICESHIP EXAM, if they can prove that they have been working in the related vocational branch for more than twice the period of apprenticeship training. In case they pass such an exam, they may take the proficiency exam after proving to have worked as such for another 5 years.
Those who opened a workplace without a proficiency certificate in the vocations covered by the Law no. 3308 before 10.07.2001 when the Law no. 4702 was passed, may take a proficiency certificate if they receive the additional make-up training and are successful in the exam.

Certificates may be obtained after taking the experienced apprenticeship and proficiency exams, if one is able to prove his/her working experience for a certain period with the vocational education certificate obtained in or out of the country outside the apprenticeship training system.

For those who start apprenticeship training after a general education of minimally high school level, the training period is such that they may obtain a vocational certificate after a training of half the period of the related apprenticeship training. (This practice shall start after the legislative regulations are complete.)

Those who graduate from vocational and technical secondary education institutions or from vocational and technical schools and institutions may take proficiency exam in their own professions.

Graduates of technical high school or of 4-year programs in vocational and technical schools and institutions are given a certificate to start businesses with the privileges and responsibilities of a proficiency certificate.

In 2001, 248.400 apprentices are being educated and 5.100 teachers are being employed in345 vocational training centers.

RESOURCE: The Ministry of Education Research, Planning and Coordination Board

RESOURCE: The Ministry of Education Research, Planning and Coordination Board