Transition between Grades and Development of Student Flow in Turkey

Purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between the policies carried out in Turkey between the years 1923-2014 regarding transition between grades and the rates of transition between grades and student flow rates. Transition between grades has been one of the most important issues of the education system especially for the last thirty years. Today, the transition examinations for secondary education and higher education have become a crisis exhibiting its effects in social, political, and economical areas. The study employed one of the mixed method designs, convergent parallel research method; and quantitative and qualitative data were collected synchronously. Quantitative data were analyzed by computing the rates of transition between grades and the student flow rates; and qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis techniques. Rates of transition between grades and the student flow rates were grouped under six periods between the years 1923 and 2014, and evaluated by associating with the policies of transition between grades. It was found from the study that the changes between the rates of transition between grades were inconsistent while the student flow rates started increasing especially with the planned development period. Methods employed in the transition between grades in the period examined in the study underwent changes particularly due to the increase in the demand for education.