The Impact of Culture on the Education System

The whole, consisting of interconnected and interacting parts that come together for a purpose, is called a system. Every system has subsystems, vitally connected to each other and interacting. However, each of them forms a whole within itself. Generally, entities in nature are grouped into three main categories: natural systems, mechanical systems, and social systems. Institutions established by people form the social system and together with culture, they form the social structure. Educational institutions, one of the basic institutions of society, are in relationship with both the material and spiritual elements of culture, just like other institutions. In this context, education and culture appear as two separate concepts that are interdependent and mutually affecting each other. In our age where social and cultural changes are experienced, the relationship between culture and education holds an important place. One of the significant factors affecting the education systems of societies is their culture. Education is also what enables the transfer of cultures to future generations. Culture is influential at every level of education and education serves as a significant tool for the transmission of culture. Therefore, it is important to consider cultural factors for understanding and developing the Turkish Education System. The study focuses on examining and discussing the relationship between education and culture in a sociological context. The primary method of the study is literature review. The relationship between education and culture, the influence of education on societies, the education systems of societies with different cultures and histories and multiculturalism are discussed to form a whole. Today, the Turkish education system continues to be shaped by the influence of culture. Examples illustrating how culture has shaped the Turkish Education System are provided within the study, discussing the impact of culture on the education system and concluding that the Turkish Education System is influenced by the cultural activities of the past of society.