A total of 203 programmes, namely 175 associate degree two-year programmes and 28 bachelor degree four-year programmes, at universities in Turkey have this year accepted students that achieved negative scores in the central exam (YKS), daily Milliyet has reported.

YKS is a multiple-choice exam. Four wrong answers erase one correct answer. As a result, it is possible to receive a negative score.

In 2022, the Erdogan regime lifted the minimum threshold required to be accepted on a programme.

A total of 83 programmes accepted students with negative scores in 2022 and the figure rose to 104 in 2023.

One candidate won approval to study on a pathology laboratory technician programme with a score of minus-12.5 in net correct answers, while another candidate made it through to study physiotherapy with a score of minus-8.

Dialysis, audiometry, computer programming, child development, culinary studies, architectural restoration, political science, international relations, graphic design and Turkish literature were among the programmes that accepted students with negative scores.

One candidate earned a 50%-scholarship on the history programme at Topkapi University in Istanbul by achieving a score of minus-0.75 in net correct answers in the social sciences section of the basic abilities test (TYT, a section of the YKS) and a minus-1 score in the history section of an area of the specialisation test (AYT, another section of the YKS).

Story chart: A candidate received approval from the pathology department at Istanbul Gelisim University after achieving minus-12.25 net correct answers in total, including 1.5 net correct answers in the Turkish language abilities section, minus-2.5 correct answers in the social sciences section, minus-7.5 net correct answers in the mathematics section and minus-3.75 net correct answers in the hard sciences section.

In October, local news portal Duvar reported that Turkey has 11 public university law faculties where the dean does not boast a law degree.

In August, Duvar reported that 24% of departments at public universities in Turkey have no academic personnel at all with the title of professor.

The Erdogan administration declared a policy of launching universities in every province and associated faculties in almost every town. It proved good for boosting construction spending and served to disguise the real situation when it comes to Turkey’s unending ranks of unemployed, as students are not counted as unemployed.

Student populations in small cities and towns also create economic benefits for small merchants and generate rich pickings for landlords and other economic actors.

Turkey’s education system is just one of multiple collapsed vital systems in the country where it is a struggle to find an institution that remains standing tall.