The Nation State, Ideology, and Education in the Early Republican Period

The educational policies of the Republic of Türkiye were shaped by the experiences gained during the Ottoman modernization era. By implementing a wide range of reforms, the new regime sought to create a society rooted in Turkish culture and nationalism and committed to Atatürk’s principles and reforms. Education, positioned as the main vehicle of the Republic’s cultural and ideological transformation, was regarded as the most effective instrument for building this new society. Within this context, traditional educational institutions were abolished, curricula were revised, and the Latin alphabet was introduced. To accelerate social transformation, public education centers were established throughout the country, and Western classics were translated into Turkish. Through the initiatives of the Turkish Language Association and the Turkish Historical Society, national understanding of language and history has been reconfigured. This chapter investigates the educational philosophy, legal and administrative regulations, and educational practices adopted during the early Republican period.