Educational leadership in a Muslim and secular country

Abstract

As a Muslim and secular country, the understanding and practice of educational administration in Turkey have their own characteristics. As a Muslim country, the transformation process of the education system to a secular, democratic state of law reform has differentiated the context of education and educational administration in Turkey from other countries. This transformation process has gained a distinctive appearance over the years with social, cultural, economic and political preferences and orientations. While its similarities with the west are dominant, it also has similarities with Muslim countries and societies. The understanding and approaches of educational administration at the country and school level in Turkey operate in a two-way tension between the west and the east. The source of tension can be examined in individual, institutional and cultural dimensions. Although the steps taken to relieve the tension seem to bring short-term and temporary solutions, they increase the tension in the medium and long term. In this chapter, the context and manifestation of educational administration in Turkey at the country and school levels have been examined. The manifestations of the country’s sociocultural, economic and political context at the system and institution levels are explained with historical and current events and facts. The methods, scope and discussions of scientific knowledge on the conceptualization of educational administration and leadership in Turkey are summarized. Turkey is in search of its own unique education system and leadership approach in an environment of tension where western and secular values are trying to dominate in a Muslim society.