Die Türkei hat ein gut etabliertes Netzwerk zur Erwachsenenbildung, die Public Education Centres (HEM). Die Einrichtungen sollen bedarfsorientiere, effiziente und demokratische Lernmöglichkeiten dort anbieten, wo die Menschen leben. Das Netzwerk besteht aus rund 1.000 Zentren im ganzen Land.
Community Learning in Turkey
All citizens of Turkey have the right to ask for an adult education course to
be opened, if they can bring together 12 people. The courses are offered free
of charge by around 1.000 Public Education Centres all over the country.
Although not widely known, Turkey has a well-established Adult Education
network called – HEM (Public Education Centres). Its aim is to provide
demand-driven, efficient and democratic learning opportunities near to where
people live. The system is similar to other European countries such as Germany
and Denmark. The network consists of around 1000 centres located all over the
country.
Spread the notion of citizenship
The HEMs were established in 1932, when the government of the new and secular
Republic of Turkey started opening Public Homes (Halkevleri) to replace the
religiously oriented non-formal education centres. The aim was to reach those
who for one reason or another could not take part in the formal education
system. The idea was to spread the notion of citizenship and to teach these
people to read and write the Latin alphabet that replaced the Arabic
one.
In 1956, the name was changed to Public Education Centres
and four years later it had its own General Directorate at the Ministry for
Education (the General Directorate for Lifelong Learning).
Kadıköy HEM is one of the the 45 HEMs currently operating in Istanbul. It serves
around 500,000 people living in one of the biggest districts of the mega city.
The HEM offers courses in various categories: information and computer
technologies, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, music, handicrafts,
sports, personal development and vocational training.
Most of the
courses take place in the central building placed in the heart of the district.
This building includes a theatre hall, a sports hall, a public library and 45
classrooms. In addition courses are offered in the public schools and
municipality premises in other parts of the district.
The General
Directorate for Lifelong Learning in Ankara annually produces a long list of
training programmes and modules. Every HEM is obliged to prepare their course
portfolio from that list. The decision of the HEM about the selection of
training offers depends mainly on the demand and needs of the local communities
and sometimes also local employers.
As a citizen you have the
right to ask for a course to be opened if you can bring together 12 people. The
courses are legally and principally free of charge, although your contribution
is welcome if you have the resources.
Majority are women
The majority of the participants are women. HEM offers a space to learn and
also to socialise. While courses such as handicraft, fashion design and
hairdressing are predominantly occupied by women, men tend to prefer graphic and
web design, as well as vocational training for technicians.
The
HEM system is unique in the region. Neither the ex-Soviet countries in the
Balkans and Caucasus nor the Middle Eastern countries manage to offer such a
broad and old public Adult Education system. It has played and still plays a big
role in increasing literacy skills and the participation of women in education
and social life. HEMs and their sister organisations Vocational and Technical
Education Centers (MEMs) also play a big part in the fight against unemployment
and poverty in Turkey.
- Autor: Erdem Vardar