Ozana Ural

Adult Education in Turkey.

This study investigates the situation and practices of adult education in Turkey in terms of (a) participants, (b) providers, and (c) program areas. The data were derived from published statistical data and one-to-one interaction with adult education providers when such data are unavailable. Turkey has a long tradition of adult education with established institutes and program areas. The Ministry of National Education (MoNE) is the main responsible body and 32 institutions provide adult education on a regular basis. The findings generally revealed young adults (ages 23-44) benefited most from adult education, more than half of participants are male, and the percentages of low-literate and literate individuals and 5-year elementary school graduates participating in adult education were less than the respective percentages in the whole population.

Behavioral Problems in Turkish Preschool-Age Children:

To diagnose behavioral problems in preschool children, and to look for an appropriate solution, is vital to prevent the problem from becoming permanent and insoluble. Teachers, working in preschool education institutions, need some instruments to diagnose behavioral problems of their students in order to help them and their parents. In this study, a scale ‘Preschool Behavior Questionnaire’ (Behar, 1976), was adapted into Turkish as ‘Okul Oncesi Davranis Sorunlari Tarama Olcegi’. The scale, considered valid and reliable, was applied to 654 children in the age group of 3–6 by 56 preschool teachers. This scale consists of 30 items and 3 factors. According to the results, the most frequently encountered problem among the young children appears to be “aggressive” behavior, and these behavioral problems vary with gender, age and socio-economic environment. To look for a shared solution with the parents after evaluating preschool children through various methods and instruments was thought to be appropriate.