Social Studies Teachers Perspectives Regarding the 2024 Social Studies Teaching Program
Abstract
The rapid transformations of the 21st century require education systems to evolve beyond knowledge transmission, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and social responsibility. In Turkey, the Social Studies Curriculum was redesigned in 2024 under the Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli (TYMM) to align with global competitiveness while safeguarding ethical values and cultural identity. This qualitative study examines teachers’ perceptions of the updated curriculum through a phenomenological approach, interviewing 12 Social Studies teachers across Turkey during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data collected via semi-structured interviews revealed that educators broadly approve of the curriculum’s student-centered methodology, condensed content, and strengthened values education. However, significant implementation challenges emerged, including overly dense activity schedules, inadequate class durations, technological infrastructure gaps, and insufficient teacher preparation for the new framework. The findings suggest that while the TYMM’s theoretical foundations are sound, its practical execution requires systemic improvements: enhanced logistical support for teachers, upgraded school resources (particularly digital tools), and ongoing professional development programs tailored to the curriculum’s demands. Addressing these issues is vital to ensure the program’s efficacy and sustainability. The study underscores that curriculum reform must be accompanied by tangible investments in teacher capacity and institutional infrastructure to achieve its intended outcomes.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Curriculum and Instration (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Özge Metin
*
0000-0003-3150-0967
Türkiye
Mehmet Yolalan
0009-0009-9225-617X
Türkiye
Hülya Yolalan
0009-0000-8429-8999
Türkiye
Publication Date
April 30, 2026
Submission Date
May 8, 2025
Acceptance Date
December 21, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 1