ANALYSING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN TURKEY REGARDING TEACHER TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

Abstract

This research is motivated to investigate five-year national development plans (NPDs) prepared in Turkey between 1963 and 2013 with regard to teacher training and employment. The data were elicited from the plans in concern, and qualitatively analysed through content analysis. The overall findings demonstrated that the related decisions were made with a focus on three purposes: (i) to meet teacher shortage, (ii) to reduce the number of students per teacher, and (iii) to balance the distribution of teachers nationwide. The reasons why most of the decisions could not be successfully implemented might be listed as political instability, decisions taken without sufficient preparation, and inadequacy of efforts to implement NDPs. Eventhoughcertaindecisionsweretakenconsideringteacherqualificationsand competenciesintoaccount,quantitativeconcernscausedprocrastinationintheir implementation. The study concludes with some practical implications for decision makers on the preparation and implementation of NDPs with respect to teacher training and employment.