Future goals and concerns of vocational high school students taking agricultural education in Turkey

In this study, the future goals and concerns of the students receiving vocational education in Agricultural Themed High Schools in Turkey were investigated, and detailed information about these high schools was given. In the study, detailed information about the history and current situation of agricultural education in the world, during the Ottoman period and the Republic of Turkey, was given. Within the scope of the study, a survey for students and school administrators was conducted. In the survey study, 512 student surveys and 27 administrator surveys were evaluated. Demographic information, perceptions of the schools and the agricultural profession, their academic and professional concerns, and future goals of the students studying in existing Agricultural Themed Vocational High Schools were examined in this field research. Within the scope of the study data about the Agricultural Themed High School administrators was also presented. The current technical infrastructure and application areas of the schools, their success status, their thoughts on Turkish agriculture, and their thoughts on agricultural high schools were compiled from the information provided by the administrators. According to the analysis, the student's academic and professional anxiety levels were at medium levels, and their future expectations were positive. It was determined that students' perceptions of academic and professional anxiety differed according to their gender, and female students experienced higher levels of anxiety compared to male students. It has been observed that students are generally satisfied with their schools and believe that they can find a job after graduation. It has been assessed that schools are not sufficient in terms of equipment, workshops, and laboratories. In the study, the current status of agricultural education at the secondary school level, and the problems of these schools were determined, and the necessary suggestions were made to those concerned. Keywords: Agricultural Themed High School, Agricultural Education, Academic, and Vocational Concern, Future Goals