The State of In-Service Training of Teachers and Teacher Training in National Education Councils

Abstract

The most important factor in fulfilling the values of the society expected from education is the teacher. However, it is evident that, from past to present, the criteria introduced and implemented in teacher training are often complex, contradictory and insufficient although the process of teacher training is a key process for the quality of teaching in schools (Atac, 2008: 8). Thus, in the National Education Councils, all components of the teacher training system must be evaluated in a constant questioning process and need to be improved continuously to train qualified teachers. This study addressed the following research question: What is the status of in¬-service training of teachers and teacher training in the National Educational Councils held so far? The population of this study was 18 National Educational Councils held between 1939 and 2010. A survey was used to determine this status and document analysis techniques were used to analyse the data gathered through the survey. Considering the agenda of the 18 National Educational Councils held from 1939 to present, the topic “Teacher Training” was mentioned in the seventh, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, seventeenth, and eighteenth councils. When the National Education Councils held from 1939 up to 2010 were analysed, focusing on the decisions related to the in-service training of teachers and teacher training, and the opinions expressed, the topic “in-service training of teachers and teacher training” was mentioned in six councils. The information obtained on the subject was presented in tables and interpreted.