Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Based Analysis of Accessibility to Schools in Çankırı (Türkiye)

Education is vital in terms of providing the individual with behaviours in the desired direction. It is necessary to ensure a sustainable and accessible education planning. Thus, it is important that children of school age have access to educational institutions. Because every child who is not in the accessible field is exposed to inequality of opportunity. In addition, studies have shown that the education of these children in schools located at long distances may cause problems in their physical and social development as well as affecting their academic success. For this purpose, the study analyzed the accessibility of children of educational age to public schools in Çankırı city. Accessibility maps for schools were produced by performing network analysis in this software. The distances in the Spatial Planning Regulation were considered to determine the accessibility problem. According to the results, accessibility values in kindergartens and primary schools are very low. In secondary and high schools, it is observed that there is no accessibility problem except in some neighbourhoods. Especially in Esentepe and Kırkevler neighbourhoods in the area, it is observed that accessibility is insufficient due to the lack of educational institutions. The findings obtained from the study provide information to school administrators, local governments, city planners, educators and local residents. Knowing which areas of the city have access problems, the structures and which areas the city is developing towards, will be a guide in the education and urban planning that will be conducted.