Education, jobs seen as major issues by youth
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 20, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - For university students, the top problems of Turkey are education and unemployment, according to a recently published survey. Students see the government as the main institution responsible for finding a solution to these problems, shows the survey
Education and unemployment are the biggest problems in Turkey, according to university students’ responses to a survey titled, "Do youth think about Turkey in 2023?"
The survey was conducted via online questionnaires sent to 460 students from 39 private and public universities. Surveying was carried out between April 7 and Sept. 29 last year by Forum Istanbul Youth Platform and research company GfK Turkey.
The majority of students saw education as Turkey’s biggest problem, with 19 percent, while the second most important problem was unemployment with a 14 percent. Coming in third place, 12 percent of respondents saw Terrorism and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK, as the biggest problem, which was followed by threats against secularism with 10 percent.
For the university students, the government holds the majority of the responsibility for Turkey’s problems. When asked which institutions were responsible for Turkey’s problems, 26 percent said the government, 17 percent said the state, while 15 percent said Parliament. Only 9 percent of respondents said that individuals are responsible for the problems.
The survey revealed that young people feel responsible for Turkey’s wealth, economic, political and social situation in 2023. 72 percent of the respondents considered themselves highly responsible, while only 2 percent did not feel any responsibility.
Disinterest in politics
The survey showed that the majority of survey participants (86 percent) were interested in domestic politics. However, 50 percent believed the main reason youth were not concerned about politics was the influence of popular culture. For 39 percent, the reason was that young people did not have enough information about their country, while 31 percent said the reason was a lack of role models. Twenty percent of respondents said youth were not interested in politics because they did not trust politicians.
When asked what level youths’ interest in politics should be, 75 percent said voting and showing their reactions in social and political matters, and 22 percent said participating in politics directly by being member of a political party.
Although students believe that young people should be interested in politics, they do not think that politicians are moral in their decision to enter politics. The survey revealed that 75 percent believed politicians entered politics for financial profit, while 60 percent believed the reason was ambition for a political career. Only 10 percent of respondents believed politicians entered politics to serve people.
Politicians lack the skills and values they should have, according to the university students. Twenty-two percent said politicians should have a full command of the country’s problems, but only 7 percent believed that the present politicians had that skill.
The survey showed students found honesty the second most important value for politicians.
However, only 2 percent said politicians were honest. More than half of the respondents said politicians have economic power, although none saw it as a necessity.
The survey was conducted via online questionnaires sent to 460 students from 39 private and public universities. Surveying was carried out between April 7 and Sept. 29 last year by Forum Istanbul Youth Platform and research company GfK Turkey.
The majority of students saw education as Turkey’s biggest problem, with 19 percent, while the second most important problem was unemployment with a 14 percent. Coming in third place, 12 percent of respondents saw Terrorism and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK, as the biggest problem, which was followed by threats against secularism with 10 percent.
For the university students, the government holds the majority of the responsibility for Turkey’s problems. When asked which institutions were responsible for Turkey’s problems, 26 percent said the government, 17 percent said the state, while 15 percent said Parliament. Only 9 percent of respondents said that individuals are responsible for the problems.
The survey revealed that young people feel responsible for Turkey’s wealth, economic, political and social situation in 2023. 72 percent of the respondents considered themselves highly responsible, while only 2 percent did not feel any responsibility.
Disinterest in politics
The survey showed that the majority of survey participants (86 percent) were interested in domestic politics. However, 50 percent believed the main reason youth were not concerned about politics was the influence of popular culture. For 39 percent, the reason was that young people did not have enough information about their country, while 31 percent said the reason was a lack of role models. Twenty percent of respondents said youth were not interested in politics because they did not trust politicians.
When asked what level youths’ interest in politics should be, 75 percent said voting and showing their reactions in social and political matters, and 22 percent said participating in politics directly by being member of a political party.
Although students believe that young people should be interested in politics, they do not think that politicians are moral in their decision to enter politics. The survey revealed that 75 percent believed politicians entered politics for financial profit, while 60 percent believed the reason was ambition for a political career. Only 10 percent of respondents believed politicians entered politics to serve people.
Politicians lack the skills and values they should have, according to the university students. Twenty-two percent said politicians should have a full command of the country’s problems, but only 7 percent believed that the present politicians had that skill.
The survey showed students found honesty the second most important value for politicians.
However, only 2 percent said politicians were honest. More than half of the respondents said politicians have economic power, although none saw it as a necessity.