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thebiologist thebiologist
wrote...
Posts: 315
Rep: 2 0
8 years ago Edited: 8 years ago, thebiologist
Give us a hand! Please go to this link and support us:
https://www.change.org/p/yök-başkanı-prof-dr-yekta-saraç-bilime-destek-kesilmesin?recruiter=430748314&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

In Turkey, TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) organizes annual National Science Olympiads, which are essentially high level competitions in math, physics, biology, chemistry and informatics.

Olympiads require an extremely high level of knowledge in their subject matter, requiring students to invest an incredible amount of time into their studies. Students preparing for the Olympiads sacrifice a great part of their lives: sometimes unable to study for school subjects, and sometimes disconnecting from friends and family to study nonstop for days, weeks or even months. We wouldn't be overstating if we were to call Olympiads a 'life-style', for its indisputable significance in its partaker's lives.

In Turkey, applications to universities are evaluated singly through a national selection exam by the name of "YGS". This exam itself requires a great amount of time to prepare for, especially for students who aspire to go to the best universities in the nation. The competition is fierce and requires undivided attention, especially in the final year before the exam. This situation proves studying both for the Olympiads and the YGS impossible, forcing students to choose between following their aspirations in science and being able to go to a good university.

We believe that no student should be forced to make such a decision, especially students that are willing to sacrifice so much for their love of science.

Until this year, students who were successful in the national Olympiads (the ones who received 'medallions'), received additional points in the university selection exam "YGS", to compensate for the amount of time they had spent studying for the Olympiads. This allowed students to keep focused in their Olympiads studies, giving them the necessary assurance that they weren't risking their future in the process.

This year, "YÖK", the governmental body organizing the university selection exam" is abolishing this point advantage, forcing many students with great potential to stop their Olympiads studies.

We fear that this decision is not only going to hurt students who have already sacrificed a great amount of their time, but is also going to detrimentally hurt future interest towards preparing for the Olympiads.

Most of us not only spend time studying for ourselves, but also encourage others to engage in science, study for advanced topics and prepare for the Olympiads. We fear that after this decision passes, we will never be able to look into the eyes of our friends and sincerely tell them to make these great sacrifices, since we would be asking them to significantly risk their chances for getting into a good university. This thought disturbs us deeply, making us doubt the future of Olympiads and interest in science in Turkey.

We believe science and exceptional students who are willing to do so much for it, should be given as much support as possible. We also believe that the future lies in the hands of these students, and that no such student should be asked to risk their future in order to continue doing what they love.
Read 2762 times
7 Replies
Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK
Replies
wrote...
Valued Member
Educator
8 years ago
You want us to sign the petition?
thebiologist Author
wrote...
8 years ago
Yes please
Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK
wrote...
Valued Member
Educator
8 years ago
Done.
wrote...
8 years ago
Signed!   
thebiologist Author
wrote...
8 years ago
Thank you very much for both of them. The campaing is going to be successful.
Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK
thebiologist Author
wrote...
8 years ago Edited: 8 years ago, thebiologist
Our campaign has resulted in success. Thanks to everyone who supported and helped  Slight Smile
#sciencewon   Wink Face
Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK
wrote...
Valued Member
Educator
8 years ago
Our campaign has resulted in success. Thanks to everyone who supported and helped  Slight Smile
#sciencewon   Wink Face

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