Turkey has various priorities to address, including improving equity between regions and urban and rural areas, addressing the needs of disadvantaged students, preparing quality teachers and school leaders, improving access to and completion of upper secondary education, vocational education and training (VET), and tertiary education, strengthening links to the labour market, and adequately funding the education system. The Basic Education Programme (1997) and the Secondary Project (2006-11), both with the World Bank, aimed to improve quality of education at these different levels. The Master Implementation Plan (2001-05) included multiple projects by UNICEF to improve both equity and quality of the education system. Initiatives in VET and tertiary education have been developed with the European Union to improve alignment with European standards.