The assessment of problems encountered when teaching hand craftsmanship skills in occupation and profession schools to the mentally retarded

In this research, it is aimed to examine the problems met while bringing the skills of handscrafts which are being practiced at Work and Profession Schools for ?Educable Mentally Disabled Children?.In the study, education practicing and work education centers associated with the National Ministry of Education (N.M.E) in Ankara city center have been determined. The work education lesson units in these schools have been examined. While giving handcraft education to mentally disabled students in order to bring them a profession, the skill types which are thought to be necessary have been created.For five schools associated to N.M.E (M.E.B.) with the necessary correspondency the permission has been taken from the head of research and development unit. The studies have been performed at Batıkent Education practice and work education center,Çağdaş Education practice and work education center, Eryaman Education practice and work education center, Sincan Ali Aktürk Education practice and work education center,Yenimahalle Milli Piyango Education practice and work education center.By giving the related table to the work education lesson instructors, it has been observed that which skills have been used and the inadequacies have been eliminated. The problems met while bringing the skills introduced with the prepared questionnaires.Performing the questionnaires and after verification and analysing the datas.?The eleven skill types specified for the work education lesson program units are adequate and should be taught.?While teaching the skills difficulties have been faced mostly in engraving and respectively; burning, weaving, sewing, forming, kneading, setting-ordering, glueing, painting and cutting skills.?While teaching the skills, the difficulties mostly arose from the student groups, than physical conditions and lack of tools lead to difficulties.Results have been observed.In this study, with attracting the importance of skill education for mentally disabled students, it is thought that education based on skills should be practiced in education practicing and work education centers. The skills in which the mentally disabled students have difficulties shuold be determined and for bringing these skills different methods for different units should be applied. The skills on which the students are successfull should be maintained and job opportunities at these fields should be examined.