II. educational policies during World War in Turkey (1939-1945)

The main policy followed by Turkey during the World War II was to maintain territorial integrity without participating in the war. During the years of war (1939- 1945), the policy of not participating in the war continued. Generally we can express the policy pursued as such; protection of borders, but also not interfering with the borders of other states. Until the war ended, this policy of neutrality was maintained. Ismet Inonu, who was the President of the Republic, had been the chief executive of the policy. Although not participating in the war, negative consequences caused by the war, affected Turkey just as it did other states. The destructive effects of the war, especially on the economy, have also made its presence felt in the social and cultural spheres. The newly founded young Republic of Turkey was in modernization efforts in these years. However, these efforts were interrupted by the war. The young state has taken very important steps regarding the change and transformation of the society, especially the education of the society, in spite of all the negative conditions, it made significant progress in education in the current conditions by referring to Western modernity. The politicians of the period attempted to construct structures that would shape the education policies in the public, especially in the sport, art and cultural area. Although the state's primary objective was the defense of the country, the issues of education and culture was seen as the same level of importance in the programs of the governments established in the Republican era as economic, political and social issues. In the study conducted; the aim of the course is to explain what works have been done within the scope of modernization efforts related to public education and what kinds of policies were followed in educational subjects between the years 1939-1945. Not only those made by the Ministry of National Education in terms of education and cultural development, many practices which had been written by the laws, but also the studies on the education of the public are also given in detail. Key Words: World War II, Education, Government Programs, Community Centers, Village Institutes, Educational Institutions