Factors Shaping Educational Decision-Making in Turkey under the JDP

Research indicates that there are several external and internal factors shaping decision-making in the context of Turkish Education System (TES). However, despite their significant weights, there is little information as how they affect the process. The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore decision-makers' perceptions of those factors' impact on decision-making and to yield new insights on the issue in order to improve the efficiency of decisions. The purposefully selected sample included three former education ministers of Justice and Development Party (JDP) and five high-rank bureaucrats from the Ministry of National Education (MoNE). The primary data collection method was in-depth interviews with the eight participants, complemented with focus group with the five high-rank bureaucrats and document analysis. Gathered data were coded, organized and analyzed according to the research questions. Results revealed that even though related literature is replete with works emphasizing the preponderance of the influence of external factors have more impact on decision-making in the case of TES.