23.07.2026 21:20
Marmara University faculty member Prof. Dr. Gültekin Çetiner was astonished by the 8,000 Turkish Lira bill and lightning-fast work of the 18-year-old locksmith he called for his lost car key. Noting that the young craftsman can earn a month's salary of an engineer in a single day, Çetiner asked, "Is the problem in Turkey that young people don't work, or is it the system that prioritizes diplomas while relegating trades to the background?"
Prof. Dr. Gültekin Çetiner, Head of the Industrial Engineering Department at Marmara University Faculty of Engineering, shared on social media his dialogue with a locksmith he called to his door after losing his car keys, along with the feelings he experienced afterward.
Stating that he was astonished by the fee he paid and the craftsman's speed, Çetiner highlighted the young craftsman, around 18-19 years old, and his success and earnings in a matter of minutes.
8 THOUSAND LIRA WORTH OF WORK IN 20-30 MINUTES
Prof. Dr. Çetiner, who stated that after losing his car keys, he researched the market and agreed with a locksmith for 8,000 TL, described the young craftsman's practicality who arrived at the address in these words:
"He opened the door in 1 minute. He looked at the circuit, recognized the vehicle. He produced the new key with his portable machine. He connected via tablet and programmed the remote. The job was done in 20-30 minutes. Then they left saying, 'Come on, we're moving to the next service.'"
"THEY EARN IN A DAY WHAT AN ENGINEER EARNS IN A MONTH"
Expressing that he fell into deep thought in the face of the young craftsman's skill in using technological devices and speed in completing the job, Çetiner drew attention to the gap between education and practical earnings in the field:
"At that moment, I thought: Maybe they earn in a day what many engineers working in the public sector earn in a month. On the other side… 12 years of compulsory education, 1-2 years of YKS preparation, graduating from one of the country's best universities, and then searching for a job for months, sometimes years..."
"IS THE SYSTEM WRONG, OR THE YOUTH?"
Prof. Dr. Gültekin Çetiner concluded his post with the following thought-provoking question:
"What is wrong in Turkey? Is it that the youth don't work? Or is it the system that chases diplomas for years while sidelining skill and profession?"