REFLECTIONS OF NEO LIBERAL POLICIES ON THE EDUCATION AREA AND THE TURKISH EDUCATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Neoliberalism is an economic system that advocates the spread of the free market idea, private
enterprise, separation from the public, production, consumption and trade independence. The
tendency of advanced capitalist countries to search for different production styles and places where
they can produce under cheap conditions has led to the existence of neoliberal policies. With the
neoliberal economic method, individual initiatives are given priority, and individual economic
activities can exist within the theoretical line created by free economic activities. Neoliberalism first
emerged in the 1970s with the aim of determining the social structure in parallel with economic
developments in a way that would serve the interests of capital. Neoliberal policies, which adopt the
approach that it is impossible to ensure the continuity of the social state understanding, also have
reflections on the field of education. In this direction, primarily in order to provide the philosophical
understanding of the system, educational institutions have been adapted to market conditions and
individuals who can adapt to the system have been trained. With the adaptation plans carried out by
the World Bank and the IMF in the 1980s, neoliberal policies are beginning to be reflected in the
field of education. In this process, first of all, the content of the education is designed in line with
the needs of the system, then the changes related to the economic resource of the education are
determined and finally the infrastructure arrangements are made. In line with neoliberal policies, the
priority in the regulations regarding the field of education is to provide the education of individuals
with the necessary knowledge and ability to act in line with the demands of the market. The
materials to be used in education are also determined by the needs of the market. Neoliberal
education policies, which determine the basic approach centered on human capital, aim to train
manpower who can work from every education level in a market-centered manner. With the
neoliberal transformations in education, the value of standardized knowledge leaves its place to
standardized success. Thus, education turns into a profit-oriented commercial institution within the
free market mechanism, equality of opportunity in education becomes impossible, polarization
becomes inevitable and the social structure moves away from democracy. Evaluation of the changes
that exist in all processes of education is important in terms of the integrity and existence of the
social structure. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the reflections of neoliberal policies on
education, which is an important instrument of social and individual regeneration, and on the
Turkish Education System.