Education Policies during Ataturk Period

Abstract

Within the years of World War I, national struggle period begins after the occupations in Ottoman Empire and considering those years, some points can be highlighted as important factors that help preparing the necessary environment. Since Atatürk was the leader of National struggle, he was able to make necessary adjustments during those hard years and the foundation period of Turkish Republic. One of those arrangements (reforms) was in the field of education.As education system in Ottoman Empire was away from nationalism and was generally under the influence of religion, it was incomplete in terms of quality and quantity. For this reason, Atatürk presented a contemporary and national system which meets the needs of the state and the public.In this study, we will examine the process how education was rescued from the property of not meeting the needs of the state and became national and modern. We will discuss Atatürk's nationalism idea reflected on the innovations in the field of education. We will witness the rapid development of our nation's modernization period thanks to the nationalization of education.