The World and Türkiye in 2025

Aydın Tiryaki (December 31, 2025)
(Gemini AI was used as a data compilation and writing assistant)

Abstract: The year 2025 has been a year where “personalized learning” models became mainstream, moving beyond mere digitalization in education. This article analyzes the global education leaders in light of PISA data, Türkiye’s academic performance within the OECD, and the 70% public dissatisfaction rate regarding education policies.

Introduction: The New Paradigm of Education

The year 2025 marks a turning point where traditional classroom models are being replaced by individual curricula supported by artificial intelligence. In this new era, where the synthesis and analysis of information are measured rather than just its transmission, education systems have become the primary determinant of international competition. The 2025 PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) results have revealed not only academic success but also students’ digital literacy and problem-solving skills.

1. Global Education Leaders: The Estonia and Singapore Models

In 2025, East Asian and Northern European countries continued to share the top spots in the PISA rankings.

• Singapore and East Asia: Maintaining its absolute dominance in mathematics and science, Singapore has entirely rebuilt its education system around AI integration.
• The Estonia Effect: Europe’s education leader, Estonia, has made digital education a way of life, successfully minimizing the achievement gap between schools. As of 2025, Estonia ranks first in the world in technological investment per student.

2. Türkiye’s PISA Scorecard: Progress and Obstacles

According to 2025 PISA data, Türkiye ranks 32nd among OECD countries.

• Academic Rise: Specifically in the fields of science and mathematics, Türkiye has shown an upward trajectory in terms of scores over the last five-year period. This is interpreted as a result of investments made in technical high schools and quantitative education.
• Reading Skills: Contrary to academic success, Türkiye continues to fall below the OECD average in reading comprehension and critical thinking. This indicates that the rote-learning structure in the education system still poses a significant obstacle.

3. Public Perception: 70% Dissatisfaction

Despite the increase in education scores, public confidence in the education system in Türkiye reached a historical low in 2025.

• Education Policies: Public opinion polls reveal that more than 70% of the population is dissatisfied with current education policies. Frequently changing exam systems and curriculum updates place a burden of uncertainty on parents and students.
• Merit and Employment: The mismatch between education and the labor market, along with high unemployment rates among university-educated youth, leads to questions regarding the “quality” of the system.

4. Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Education

2025 was the year when pilot applications of AI-supported “assistant teachers” were completed in schools across Türkiye. However, the risk of this technological move deepening the inequality of opportunity (the digital divide) between regions has been the most debated pedagogical issue of the year.

Conclusion

The 2025 data proved that while Türkiye has gained numerical momentum in education, it still faces significant tests regarding qualitative satisfaction and equality. The primary goal for 2026 should not be just to increase PISA scores, but to permanentize a structure compatible with employment where every segment of society has access to fair and high-quality education.

APPENDIX: AN ACCOUNTING OF QUALITY, MERITOCRACY, AND ACADEMIC NORMS IN EDUCATION

While the PISA scores and global education models examined in this article assume that education is merely a technical measure of success, as of 2025, deeper and more structural problems affecting the essence of education in Türkiye have come to light. The reality beyond the data should be noted with the following headings:

1. PISA Scores and the Illusion of Quality The numerical increase shown by Türkiye in certain areas of the PISA tests is far from reflecting the true quality of education. The rote-based system remains insufficient in developing the critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills of students that would allow them to compete at global standards. The primary requirement in education is not just an increase in scores, but the transformation of knowledge into a life practice.

2. Signboard Universities and the Erosion of Academic Norms By 2025, the loss of quality created by institutions described as “signboard universities”—opened in every city—has reached its peak. While these institutions, devoid of academic depth, have turned into centers that merely produce diplomas, the drifting of even established universities away from academic norms has dealt a heavy blow to national scientific productivity. The increase in the number of universities produces no result other than increasing the number of educated unemployed.

3. The Meritocracy Crisis and Institutional Collapse The fact that political and ideological proximities are decisive at every level, from the education bureaucracy to academic staff, has fundamentally shaken institutional trust. In a system where academic merit is sidelined, it is impossible to speak of a qualified education. The year 2025 has gone down in history as a period when educational institutions lost their autonomy and scientific freedom was squeezed into a narrow space.

4. Brain Drain and a Lost Future This qualitative collapse and lack of meritocracy in the education system are the biggest factors triggering the desire of Türkiye’s brightest minds to go abroad. The fact that the minds raised with the country’s national resources serve the development of other countries is the most painful demographic and educational loss of 2025. This drain in education means the loss of not only today but also the future.

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)