Human rights education implementation in Turkish teacher education: faculty members’ and teacher candidates’ views

Faramarz Yaşar Abedi; Seval Fer

doi:10.7577/hrer.5096

Authors

Faramarz Yaşar Abedi Hacettepe University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6740-3360
Seval Fer Hacettepe University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9577-2120

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/hrer.5096

Abstract

Teachers play an essential role in promoting human rights and a just society. However, the lack of Human Rights Education (HRE) knowledge, skills, and values among teachers in Turkey is a commonly reported issue. This study aims to assess the need for HRE implementation in the Turkish Teacher Education Programmes (TTEP), where academic research on HRE is scarce. Data were collected from a survey of 632 Teacher Candidates (TCs) and 47 Faculty Members (FMs), interviews with 14 FMs, and focus group interviews with 34 TCs. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were analysed using a qualitative data analysis framework proposed by Miles, Huberman, & Saldaña (2019). The results indicate the urgent need to integrate HRE through curricular and extracurricular activities. We also consider the benefits and challenges of implementing HRE in TTEP.

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Author Biographies

Faramarz Yaşar Abedi, Hacettepe University

Faramarz Yaşar Abedi holds a B.A. degree in Linguistics from Iran Azad University, an M.A. degree in English Language Teaching from Girne American University, and a PhD degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Hacettepe University, Turkey. Before joining Ankara Medipol University, he served in different secondary and tertiary-level teaching positions nationally and internationally. Since September 2022, Faramarz Yaşar Abedi has been working as an English instructor at Ankara Medipol University School of Foreign Languages.

Seval Fer, Hacettepe University

Seval Fer holds a Master of Science in vocational education/curriculum from Wisconsin-Stout University in the United States and a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from Gazi University in Turkey. She has been a full professor in the Curriculum & Instruction department of Turkey's Hacettepe University since 2013. Her primary research interests in education are instructional design and curriculum development.

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