Teaching as a Profession: The case of Turkey

This article, by discussing the concept of profession considering its five basic characteristics, questions the status of teaching as a profession in Turkey and suggests possible measures that need to be taken to advance professional status of teachers. Despite the positive steps taken in teacher education by reorganizing faculties of education, unceasing shifts in teacher education and employment policies, lack of professional organizations and central regulation of educational system to a large extent appear to be some of the major barriers in construction of teaching as a profession.