A study of alternative practices used for compensating teacher shortage in Turkey(1961-1996)

Abstract A Study of Alternative Practices Used for Compensating Teacher Shortage in Turkey (1961-1996) The problem of usage of alternative sources about teacher employment in Turkey since 1961 has not been dealt in a detailed way. 10 different teacher appointment practices which were implemented apart from usual appointment procedures in Turkey have been accessed by examination of documents. Reasons, processess and results concerning these appointment procedures have been dealt in the light of data that were obtained from first hand and second hand sources. Alternative teacher appointment procedures have been tried to be explained through findings that were accessed, have been related to former and latter appointment procedures, and finally reasons and results of all these alternative ways have been tried to be explained. Through the information obtained in the study, it is determined that the main reason of these alternative formulas were originated from teacher shortage that has increased constantly because of various reasons. It has been expected that plans and programs that were practiced would be useful in a short term however both economical structure and political and social environment of the period has not allowed this. Some practices were ended in related academic year, or they were taken part in another education regulations in a few years. On the other hand private teacher and reserve officer teacher practices are still in progress. This kind of practices have caused significant losses by means of quality in consequence. In this study, the situation of the quality of teaching against quantity in the aforementioned process has been tried to be enlightened chronologically and methodologically. Keywords: Alternative practices, education, teaching, teacher appointments, teacher shortage