The period of change is hard work. It must be directed carefully. You will be making a mistake if you do not see that the accumulation of 37 years is Turkey's accumulation.

In the first version of the commentary, the title was "ÖSYM, What the Hell!" But while I was writing, I came to a much better understanding of the meaning of the scope of incompetence demonstrated by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), headed by Ali Demir. I believe that there is a great story of success (!) behind making a big mess out of every stage of the duty assigned to him. No one has gone so far before. Moreover, I read the understatement of the year by the Honorable Prime Minister, highlighted in the media with the theme, "The ÖSYM President failed to manage the process well." Yes, Mr. Erdoğan has understated the scandal, but even he had to say, "What the hell!" What else can I say? I sincerely congratulate the president.

Incompetence record

The ÖSYM has broken all records in the field of incompetence. All stages of the examination process have gone badly. First was the preparation process. We found out that there was an amateurish coding incident. The debate started in the direction of "was this amateur code disclosed in advance to certain students for their gain?" and went as far as the education institutions which had taught mode and median. Before we could get over this, the ÖSYM messed up again with the examination stage. On the one hand, they distributed the wrong or misprinted booklets and, on the other hand, they failed to explain why a group of students took the exam at the same examination center where candidates are allegedly placed randomly. On top of it, at the third stage, they announced the results incorrectly. Those who received consolation messages for not having passed the exam learned after applying to the ÖSYM that they had scored. What can I say? It actually is a great story of success to make a big mess of every stage of the duty.

I took the university placement exam thirty-three years ago, in 1978. Before then, the exam lasted two days, but I took the one-day exam. Since then the system has been revised several times. The university entrance exam has always been a debated issue, but back then, the debates were on the methods employed in the context of the system in effect. Today, what we debate is the insolvency of the entire system. If a systematic failure arises at every stage of the examination system, the system in itself becomes the center of the debate. The ÖSYM must elucidate whether there exists a chain of systemic failures.

Why? In my last year in high school, I attended private training schools on the weekends to prepare for the one-day university exam. I took the regular courses at school and the private schools had secondary importance. My education at school was financed by the state while the cost of the private training school was covered by my parents. Nowadays, students begin to prepare themselves for the university exam systematically starting from the first year of high school. Naturally, the contribution parents have to make to the education of their children increases continuously. They bear the increasing education costs so their children can score higher points on the exam. But what assures that they will do so: The belief that the examinations organized by the ÖSYM are fair. So, what has been damaged today is this belief. This is what should be remedied. 

Change comes with a process

The lesson to be learned here is that change comes with a process. This process must be managed carefully. You may be of the belief that a particular institution must be revised, but this change cannot be ensured simultaneously in all sub-units of the institution. If you fail to realize the acquisitions of Turkey in the last thirty-seven years, this will be a huge mistake. This will hinder the provision of services. This is what we witness today.

The capacity of a country in one sector is an indication of its capacity in another. The capacity of hospitals indicates the capacity of the post offices. Given the image of the ÖSYM, we should be suspicious of any project, including the Istanbul channel. We should note that justice is the foundation of the state.

So, who will watch the watchmen?

This commentary was published in Radikal daily on 03.05.2011