Evaluation of the suitability of accounting education given in secondary education institutions to business expectations: The case of Gebze

Qualified labor force is one of the important criteria in determining the development levels of countries. The quality of the labor force undoubtedly depends on the importance that countries attach to vocational training. Due to the changes in the world, it is important to train professionally equipped professionals who will not have problems in adaptation to business life by making necessary updates in accounting profession as in every profession. Accordingly, the quality of accounting education depends on the monitoring and development of real business developments. The basic education institution in which accounting education is given in Turkey is the Trade Vocational High School, formerly Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools. Accounting education in these educational institutions is given intensively in the field of Computerized Accounting in the field of Accounting and Finance. It is important that the graduates of these educational institutions whose main purpose is to train qualified intermediate personnel in the accounting profession to the market, graduate with the qualifications expected by the business world. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of the targeted qualifications on providing the basic knowledge and skills required for the profession of accounting as a result of the accounting education program carried out in Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools, and to determine the extent of accounting education given in vocational schools to the expectations of the enterprises. Within the scope of the study, a questionnaire consisting of 39 questions was applied to the accounting and financial managers of the enterprises in Kocaeli Gebze Organized Industrial Zone and employing trainees in vocational high school accounting field. As a result of the study, it was determined that the qualifications gained to students as a result of the accounting education given in Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools are not at the level to meet the expectations of the enterprises, it is determined that the accounting teaching curriculum should be updated in practice and that accounting professional members should be included in the accounting education process.