Evaluation of alternative schools in the context of critical pedagogy

Alternative education is a general concept encompassing educational approaches and practices that criticize dominant educational paradigms and emphasize both individual and societal development. In this research, based on the perspectives of school administrators, teachers, and parents working in alternative schools across various cities in Turkey, the aim was to identify the similarities and differences in terms of critical pedagogy philosophy and practices within alternative schools in Turkey. This study adopted a qualitative research method, specifically a case study design, to examine the opinions of school administrators, teachers, and parents. The research group was determined using purposive sampling techniques, focusing on alternative schools in four cities in Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Mersin). Data for this study was collected during the 2022-2023 academic year through semi-structured interviews conducted with 25 participants. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive analysis, a qualitative research method. As a result, five themes emerged: perspectives on alternative schools, perspectives on the learning environment of the school, perspectives on educational programs and practices, perspectives on parental involvement, and perspectives on the preferred alternative school. The research findings indicate that alternative schools are student-centered, freedom-oriented, and innovative compared to traditional schools. They assist students in developing critical thinking and real-life connections. However, it was concluded that these alternative schools struggle to fully align with critical pedagogical principles.