160-Year-Old Model in Agricultural Vocational High Schools Being Renewed

September 11, 2026 · Tarım TV

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of National Education aim to provide qualified intermediate staff to the agricultural sector by modernizing the curriculum and technical infrastructure of agricultural vocational high schools.

New Era in Agricultural High Schools

The final meeting of the 'Restructuring of Agricultural Vocational High Schools' project, carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of National Education, was held in Ankara, hosted by the Education and Publication Department. At the summit, which saw high-level participation, the infrastructure of a contemporary education model that will train qualified human resources for the agricultural sector was discussed. The project, conducted with strong cooperation between the ministries, aims to expand the technical facilities of agricultural vocational high schools across Turkey and transform educational standards to suit current conditions.

Rural Development and Employment

Making evaluations after the meeting, TBMM Agriculture, Forestry, and Village Affairs Commission Spokesperson and Burdur Deputy Adem Korkmaz stated that the project is of great importance in terms of rural policy and employment, and said:

'We are discussing Turkey's rural policy. We have participated in a process related to the restructuring of agricultural high schools that were reputable, strong, and contributed to the sector in the past. It is gratifying to know that both the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, and the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, are very eager about this matter. When it is concluded, the agricultural profession will become more reputable in Turkey, and agricultural workers will be more reputable.'

The Role of Youth in Food Security

Emphasizing the importance of creating the intermediate workforce needed by the sector, Presidential Agricultural and Food Policies Board Member Prof. Dr. Aykut Gül stated that the educational needs in rural areas will be met with the infrastructure of established institutions such as TAGEM and TİGEM. Emphasizing that sustainability is possible with young people turning to agriculture, Presidential Agricultural and Food Policies Board Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Zümrüt Begüm Ögel noted the following:

'Food security depends on the sustainability of agriculture, and for sustainability, young people need to choose agriculture. The restructuring of agricultural high schools will be an important step in this choice.'

Presidential Agricultural and Food Policies Board Member Prof. Dr. Cenk Aydın also stated that the project will be further strengthened with broad collaborations.

Curriculum and Quality Increase

Deputy General Director of Vocational and Technical Education at the Ministry of National Education, Fahri Acar, conveyed the educational plans carried out within the framework of commission studies and made the following assessment:

'When we consider vocational education, agriculture is a very valuable subject for us. We are engaged in a very good study with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to empower our students currently receiving education in our agricultural high schools, to increase the quality of education provided in these schools, and to create employment in the agricultural field by admitting more students here.'

Step from Deep Roots to the Future

Touching upon the historical accumulation, Head of the Education and Publication Department, Dr. Bülent Kahraman Çolakoğlu, made the following assessment:

'Agricultural high schools have a history of 160 years. At the end of this process, a new agricultural vocational high school model will be launched with a renewed curriculum by the Ministry of National Education.'

Çolakoğlu, referring to the inter-ministerial cooperation and technical inspections carried out in the field, said:

'I also attended the meeting where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, and the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, evaluated the restructuring of agricultural high schools. Our Minister of National Education showed a very strong will there. Our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry reciprocated this will. We, as the Education and Publication Department, formed a commission with our department head colleagues who graduated from these high schools, taking on our assigned duty. Subsequently, we visited all these high schools, conducted technical inspections, and gathered information. The concrete form of the model we are trying to develop has begun to take shape as a result of the meetings held. It is very valuable that politics, bureaucracy, non-governmental organizations, high-level board members, and the academic community come together to discuss this issue and ponder our country's agricultural future.'

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