Evaluation of the Turkish education system problems within the scope of postmodern philosophy

ABSTRACT EVALUATION OF THE TURKISH EDUCATION SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF POSTMODERN PHILOSOPHY Hasan KIZILKAYA AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY THE INSTITUTE of SOCIAL SCIENCES EDUCATION SCIENCES DEPARTMENT September 2014 Advisor: Prof. Dr. Mustafa ERGÜN The concept of Postmodernism which emerged in the 1950s and used to express the complexity of anti-modernist art practices is not only a thought or a concept, but also it is a practice and it has different perspectives in different fields. Education as a study field is also currently under the influence of this trend. Postmodern phenomena in Turkish education system has started to gain weight in recent years. This is a natural consequence of pursuing a postmodern policy. The influence of postmodernism became more pronounced in the 2005-2006 academic year adopting constructivist approach which accepted as a postmodern educational theory. Education system has become student-centered and process-oriented rather than teacher-centered and outcome-oriented. Instead objective information, construction of the knowledge is emphasized. The current issues in contemporary Turkish education system and to evaluate these issues within the scope of postmodern philosophy are the main concerns of this study. Furthermore the Turkish education system, the reform movement in recent years, structural changes and their philosophical foundations are tried to be explained. In addition, the study is expected to contribute to the conceptualizing of postmodernism in Turkey. Keywords: Turkish education system, educational problems, postmodern education,