Warning from experts to parents and students: Vacation is not just about spending free time

As the summer holiday, eagerly awaited by over 19 million students in Turkey, approaches, experts have warned students and parents. Okan Kılınç, a teacher at Duru Course Center, pointed out that the holiday is misunderstood by some in Turkey and advised that students should be directed towards the fields and professions they are interested in during the holiday in order to better shape their future.

Kılınç stated that the summer holiday will start on June 14th and over 19 million students in Turkey will go on holiday. He said, “Unfortunately, for a large majority of students and parents, the holiday plan is solely based on resting and having fun. However, in our fast-paced lives where time flies by quickly, we recommend that young people, who are the guarantee of our future, spend their holiday not only by resting but also by focusing on the fields and professions they are interested in.”

Okan Kılınç, addressing parents especially, stated that the notion of holiday has changed negatively in our country in recent years. He said, “Of course, our students deserve to rest. However, it should not be forgotten that education is an ongoing process throughout life. Therefore, the holiday should not be interpreted as just spending free time and resting. Our advice to parents is to guide our students towards the profession they are interested in after a week of rest. Parents who do nothing should at least try to pass on their own professions to their children.”

Okan Kılınç emphasized that parents have a great responsibility for a productive summer holiday. He said, “A young person who has a 100% success in school today may not show the same success when they start their life. Therefore, we believe that during the holiday period, students should not only acquire a profession but also be confronted with the harsh realities of life. Because theoretically learned information can be applied in practice in this way.”

“First, one must pass the test of life”

Okan Kılınç, a teacher at Duru Course Center, stated that the education system in Turkey is completely filled with exams, but the test of life should be seen as the final of these exams. He said, “Accessing information in the globalizing world has become easier, but producing knowledge and applying the acquired knowledge in the field have become more difficult. Therefore, it is now more important to produce, use, and develop thinking skills rather than just acquiring knowledge. The source of knowledge is no longer just schools but all areas of life. Therefore, we recommend that the holiday should be seen as a time for children not to spend idle time but as a time to take life lessons.” He recommended that during the 3-month summer holiday, all children should enter the working life and gain experience against challenging life conditions.