OECD ministers gather in Turkey to explore solution to unemployment

Education ministers from more than 30 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) met here in Istanbul on Wednesday to explore a solution to high unemployment among youths in these countries. OECD General Secretary Angel Gurria said at the meeting that the average unemployment rate among the youths in OECD countries is 60 percent, adding: "We should try to bring these young people back to work and equip them with different and appropriate skills. " Addressing participants at the meeting, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid attention to the high unemployment rates of young people around the world, warning against the resulting social problems. "The high unemployment rate could be overcome by creating realistic and sustainable education models. If not, we should be prepared for bigger social problems," he said. The meeting, which is considered as one of the few international education forums, focuses on "Fostering Relevant Skills and Employability through Education." The OECD member countries include many of the world's most advanced countries, and some emerging countries like Mexico, Chile and Turkey.