Deep Crisis in Turkish Higher Education; Universities on the Verge of Collapse

The Gradual Decline of Free and Public Education in Turkey

In its latest statement published on July 14, 2026, the Education and Science Workers' Union of Turkey (Eğitim Sen) warned about the deplorable state of the country's universities. According to this report, government policies in recent years have led to the widespread "commercialization" of higher education, transforming universities from institutions of knowledge production into economic enterprises [1]. The union believes that the concept of "education as a public right" is disappearing, replaced by a model where only the wealthy classes of society are able to benefit from high-quality education.

Livelihood Crisis and Mass Student Dropouts

One of the main pillars of the Eğitim Sen report is the direct impact of the economic crisis on students' lives. The skyrocketing costs of housing, food, and stationery have forced an unprecedented number of students to drop out or take up precarious jobs during the current academic year [2]. The report notes that state dormitories meet only a small fraction of the needs, and the private sector, with astronomical prices, has made access to education impossible for the children of working-class families. This situation is described not only as an educational crisis but as a social disaster that institutionalizes inequality for future generations.

Management Structure and Suppression of Academic Independence

Another part of this analysis addresses the issue of political appointments within university management. The union emphasizes that the appointment of university presidents (Rektör) without considering academic qualifications and solely based on political loyalties has completely destroyed academic independence [1]. These pressures have severely restricted freedom of expression in university environments, and many prominent professors avoid researching sensitive areas for fear of dismissal or legal prosecution. This trend has led to a "brain drain" from public universities toward institutions abroad [3].

Eğitim Sen Union Demands for Urgent Reforms

At the end of its report, the Eğitim Sen union put forward a set of urgent demands to break this deadlock. These demands include increasing government funding for universities, guaranteeing administrative and academic independence, and making all welfare services free for students [2]. They warned that if structural changes are not implemented in next year's budget, Turkish universities will completely lose their international credibility, and the higher education system will face an irreversible collapse. The organization called on all civil society groups and academics to unite to reclaim the public nature of universities.