Measuring regional inequality of education in Turkey: an evaluation by Gini index

Abstract

This study aims to determine the relationship between inequality in education in Turkey and the average years of schooling. The source of the data was the 2000 General Census of Population: Social and Economic Characteristics of Population. To determine the inequalities in education, the average years of schooling of the population at the age of 25 and over and the education Gini index were calculated. The average years of schooling in Turkey and in all the regions during the period of 1975-2000 increased, and inequality in education decreased. A negative relationship was found between average years of schooling and educational Gini index. A positive relationship was found between the rates of increase in average years of schooling and decrease in the education Gini index. © 2009.