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
Kaynakça
- Altunöz, S. (2008). Teachers’ and supervisors’ views on the 6th grade social studies curriculum: The case of Bolu province [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Gazi University.
- Akarsu, A. H., Yılmazer, A., & Geçit, Y. (2020). The structure of social studies teacher education programs: A comparison of the 2006–2018 curricula. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, (56), 23-60.
- Akdağ, H. (2009). Evaluation of the 6th and 7th grade social studies curriculum according to students’ views: The case of Konya province. Selçuk University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, (21), 1-14.
- Akpınar, B., & Aydemir, H. (2012). Evaluation of the 7th grade social studies curriculum according to teachers’ views. Amasya University Journal of Education Faculty, 1(1), 41-53. Alp, İ. (2021). Development of a virtual reality application for social studies teaching [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Dokuz Eylül University.
- Ayka, N. (2007). Teachers’ views on the elementary social studies curriculum. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 6(22), 46-73.
- Bahattin Acat, M., & Uzunkol, E. D. (2010). Classroom teachers’ views on assessment processes in elementary curricula. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 9(31), 1-27.
- Balcı, A., & Yelken, T. (2013). Teachers’ views on values and values education practices in the elementary social studies curriculum. Ahi Evran University Journal of Kırşehir Education Faculty, 14(1), 195-213.
- Baş, M. (2017). Comparison of the 2009, 2015, and 2017 elementary mathematics curricula. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Journal of Education Faculty, 14(1), 1219-1258.
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Eğitim Programları ve Öğretim (Diğer)
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Özge Metin
*
0000-0003-3150-0967
Türkiye
Mehmet Yolalan
0009-0009-9225-617X
Türkiye
Hülya Yolalan
0009-0000-8429-8999
Türkiye
Yayımlanma Tarihi
30 Nisan 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
8 Mayıs 2025
Kabul Tarihi
21 Aralık 2025
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 14 Sayı: 1