An Investigation of 21st Century Primary Schools' Functions According to Primary School Teachers' Views

Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine the functions that future primary schools will adopt based on the opinions of primary school teachers. Accordingly, the functions of instruction, socialization, and qualification that schools fulfill were assessed in accordance with the literature and teachers' opinions. Designed in a descriptive survey model, this study employed a parallel mixed design utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments. Two questionnaire forms one for demographic information and one for teachers' opinions were used for the quantitative data and semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted for the qualitative data set. As for research findings, teachers think that schools pay more attention to the function of socialization than instruction and qualification and that this function should not be only under their responsibility, rather be completed through cooperation with families. Furthermore, findings also point out that children should be equipped with meaningful daily life information, they should be encouraged to make career plans that will make them happy based on a "self-get to know" process, and they should be prepared for the next educational level.