Abstract:

Parallel to the changes made in the curriculum within the framework of contemporary education approaches in the world and in Turkey, the curriculum that has been implemented in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since 2005 has been reconstituted. The biggest change in the new curricula is the replacement of the traditional 'teacher centered' approach based on the adopted behaviorist education theory of the old curricula by the 'student centered' constructivist approaches based on behavioral cognitive theory. In principle, new education programs that adopt a constructivist approach and target student-centeredness include cognitive-affective features and necessary skills. This study aimed to reveal the views of primary school teachers about the primary school curriculum, which was renewed in 2005 and is being implemented today. For this purpose, an open-ended interview form was applied to primary school teachers based on qualitative research. 60 primary school teachers working under the TRNC Ministry of National Education Department of Primary Education participated in this research. As a result of the research, it was seen that primary school teachers had both positive and negative thoughts about the curriculum prepared with the constructivist approach. The data obtained in the research were analyzed by content analysis. The fact that the primary school curriculum, which is implemented in line with the data obtained in the research and prepared with a constructivist approach, is student-centered was evaluated as a positive development by the teachers. On the other hand, negative opinions were expressed by the teachers that the duration of the lessons is insufficient in the implementation of the curriculum, which is stated to contain too many gains, and the crowded classes do not allow the application of student-centered education.

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