The evaluation of 1st grade school teachers’ views about orientation and preparation programs

Abstract

During the 2012-2013 academic year, the primary education system in Turkey witnessed an overhaul where among other changes, ‚Compliance and Preparatory Studies" were introduced. Implementation of the twelve-week Compliance and Preparatory Studies course is now the responsibility of primary 1st grade teachers. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the opinion of 1st grade teacher’s regarding the compliance program. The study employed qualitative research methods and conducted interviews with 20 teachers. Results of the data analysis identified six main themes; teachers’ reflections on the new education system, activities in the compliance program, problems encountered while administering the compliance program, the benefits of compliance programs, difficulties in the transition to primary school, and the situation after the process of integration of the students.