Education policies of Turkey's political parties: analysis of 2015 electi̇on declerati̇on

Main purpose of this study is to compare and contrast the views and policies of political parties in the field of education under several topics which are education programs, preschool education, vocational high school and vocational training, teacher training and employment, special education, compulsory education, education philosophy, reforms related higher education, university entrance examination, education budget and qualities. Data for this study have been collected from formal written materials that are election declerations dated November 1, 2015, received from official web sites of the political parties. Data have been analysed through the document analysis technique among qualitative research methods. The sample of the study consists of legally operating four political parties of Turkey, Justice and Development Party, Republican People's Party, People's Demokratic Party and Nationalist Movement Party. Results have revealed that political parties have different and similar temporary perspectives, promises, solutions to the problems related to education indicated in election decleration. In disscussion part, comparision findings were resatated in terms of four great Turkish political parties' education policies. In this frame, similarities and differences of political parties on educational policies have been presented. Keywords: political parties, election declerations, education policies, education