Türkiye boosts education expenditures by 92.5% in 2023
File photo shows students working at their desks in a classroom environment, with a focus on one student holding a pencil and working on a notebook or worksheet, accompanied by a calculator and school supplies. (AA Photo)
Education expenditure in Türkiye nearly doubled in 2023 by a 92.5% rise compared to the previous year, increasing to ₺1.13 trillion ($38.4 billion based on rates as of Dec. 31, 2023) from ₺587 billion ($31.4 billion based on rates as of Dec. 31, 2022), the Turkish Statistical Institute reported on Thursday.
The share of education spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 3.9% in 2022 to 4.3% in 2023. Government expenditure on education accounted for 3.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), up from 3.1% in the previous year.
Government sources financed 83.5% of Türkiye’s education expenditure in 2023, while households contributed 7.9%.
Per-student education spending also saw significant growth, increasing from₺25,143 ($1,344 based on currency rates as of Dec. 31, 2022) to ₺49,045 ($1,667 based on rates as of Dec. 31, 2023). Among all education levels, tertiary education recorded the highest per-student expenditure at ₺84,759.
Massive education expenditures pay off through academic success
The enormous budget enabled Türkiye’s students to showcase remarkable academic achievements in 2023, as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) report unveiled on Wednesday.
According to the TIMSS results, Türkiye’s fourth-grade students achieved the highest science scores among European countries and ranked second among OECD nations.
In mathematics, they secured second place in Europe and fourth among OECD countries, marking the country’s best performance in the assessment since its initial participation in 1999.
