Does the Turkish Education System Have an Educational Philosophy?

Abstract

There is a widespread belief as regards our educational system, which is also evaluated as the "Human Raising System", that it lacks an educational philosophy. It is obvious that as education system without an educational philosophy cannot raise people suitable for the information society. Considering the people raised by the system, it would not be a very unfair to label the education system as without philosophy. The objective of this study is to try to look for an answer to the question "if the education system has a philosophy or not" by examining the issue within the context of the objective and principles of the Turkish education system. To this end, objective and principles of the system were examined and discussed in terms of educational philosophies with an eye to achieve the cited objective. Given the fact that the human type that raised by the system in general “does not question things, believes that all the things said by the rulers is true, makes everything ordered without any objection (approach of “I Close My Eyes and Do My Duty”) and obeys the authority by all means”, the opinion that the system is "without philosophy" emerges by itself. However, although the system actually owns a philosophy, beliefs as to what this philosophy are different than each other.

Keywords: philosophy, educational philosophy, philosophy of the Turkish education system

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-17-10

Publication date:June 30^th 2021