An Overview of Equal Educational Opportunities in Turkey: A Spatial Analysis of Classrooms in Rural and Urban Primary Schools

Abstract

The number of students in a class is a primary factor affecting the quality of education. Therefore, this study examines the distribution of the number of students per class in rural and urban primary schools in Turkey, and efforts have been made to specify classroom needs. Statistical data was obtained from the Turkish Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of National Education. In order to better interpret data, graphs and maps were prepared with the help of GIS. The MapInfo 12.0 program was used for map drawing. The data was mapped using the Inverse Distance Weighted Algorithm. Whether there was global clustering regarding the distribution of the number of students per class in both rural and urban primary schools in Turkey was investigated using Moran I. In addition, local Moran I maps were employed to identify whether or not there was local clustering or neighboring interaction. At the end of the research, a variety of findings and results were obtained regarding the condition of primary school classes in Turkey. In conclusion, it has been determined that there is a need for more classes in certain regions, while they are urgently needed in others.