Sugar factories as a tool of informal education

This research is a qualitative study that includes the detailed evaluation of the informal education and common-public education in Uşak, Alpullu and Eskişehir Sugar Factories which are the first three sugar refineries of the republic era. To reach the aim of the research, oral history method, among the Qualitive Research Methods, is used. Related to the subject, Uşak, Alpullu and Eskişehir Factories were selected. In addition to this, interviews were made with the factory workers, managers and retired workers on these factories and the archives of the personal photos, memoirs and memories related to the topic were attained from these people. Also, the factory and provincial public libraries of these cities were scanned elaborately. The aim of the research is to reveal the traces of the sugar factories in the foundation of modern Turkey and educations given in the factories, changes in the soci-cultural life and the role of sugar factories that were established in the first decade of the republic, on the development of social structure. Uşak, Alpullu and Eskişehir Sugar Factories both changed the perspective for the music, sports and art on the social life and helped prosperity achieved in terms of economy for their workers, families and the locals since the day the factories were established.