Examining the educational value of support and training courses from the perspective of administrators and teachers

The aim of this study is to identify the achievements and challenges in the implementation process of the after school activity courses, which have been implemented in all secondary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education since the 2014-2015 academic year. For this purpose, interviews were conducted with 20 individuals. In this research, a case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed. Maximum variation sampling was used to determine the study group. Data were collected from 10 teachers and 10 school administrators working in public secondary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. The data for the research were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The interview form was created through a literature review and consisted of 11 main questions and 19 probing questions. The data obtained from the interviews with teachers and school administrators were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis techniques. According to the findings of the study, it was observed that school administrators and teachers believe that the courses contribute to preparing students for exams. Absenteeism emerged as the biggest issue in the courses. Additionally, it was found that the after school activity courses provided economic benefits to teachers and school administrators and that teachers experienced professional satisfaction due to the increased student success. It was suggested that holding the courses on weekdays reduced the motivation of both students and teachers, and thus, it would be more appropriate to hold the courses on weekends. Having a separate course program was concluded to be more effective in exam preparation. It was recommended to impose sanctions on students and parents who exhibit absenteeism and to charge a certain fee for the courses. It was also suggested that number of minimum students to open a courses in schools that are disadvantaged in terms of student numbers should be more flexible. The results of the study are expected to guide all stakeholders, especially the Ministry of National Education, regarding the support and training courses.