Achieving Gender Parity in Primary School Education in Turkey via the Campaign called “Haydi Kızlar Okula” (Girls, Let’s Go to School)

Abstract

Achieving gender parity in primary education is one of the most complex educational issues with which many developing countries, including Turkey, struggle. In 2007 alone, Turkey had approximately 640,000 children of primary school age who were out of school, and around 60% of those were girls (UNESCO, 2010). For this study, “Haydi Kızlar Okula”, which was one of the biggest and the most effective education campaigns implemented in Turkey, is analyzed to present a systematic evaluation of Turkey’s current efforts to increase gender parity in access to education via this campaign. The results of our analysis show that although Turkey is making strides toward closing the gender gap in primary school participation, it is important to extend this effort without losing momentum, especially in the areas where gender disparity in access to education is the highest. Hence, campaigns devoted to female education through collaboration between the Turkish government and national or international foundations in the last decade should continue with some necessary changes and modifications