A study on the reflections of political power changes on curriculum in Turkey (1936-1986)

This study examines, within the framework of the concepts of politics, power, and the curriculum, the relationship between the changing primary school curricula in Turkey and the single-party period, transition to a multi-party period and ensuing power changes, the 1960 coup d'etat and the coalition periods lasting until 1986. This study is designed as a holistic multiple case study. The relationship between the primary school curricula and aforementioned periods has been examined through document analysis. In this context, primary school curricula of 1936, 1948, 1962, and 1968 were used. In addition, the data obtained from political party programs were analyzed through descriptive analysis. The primary documents constituting the data set of the research are the primary school curricula, election declarations and programs of political parties, and documents regarding the government policies. Documentaries, books, and newspapers describing the political history of Turkey were used as secondary documents. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between the changes in the curricula in Turkey and the changes in the political fabric of the country. Important political changes led to a change in the primary school curricula as well. Finally, it has been determined that the curricula changed when a political party came to power with an overwhelming majority. All of these changes were made within 2 or 3 years from the moment the power changed hands, in other words, after the election or the coup.