European Journal of Education Studies ISSN: 2501 - 1111 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1111 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu doi: 10.5281/zenodo.893321 Volume 3 │ Issue 10 │ 2017 OPINIONS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER GRADUATES ON PUBLIC PERSONNEL SELECTION EXAM Fikret Alıncak Physical Education and Sport Department, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey Abstract: Taking Personnel to Government departments via Public Personnel Selection Exam was first done in 1999. Ministry of Education used this exam results in any of the Teacher Assignments. In the year 2013, as it is thought that this exam was not sufficient for Teacher Selection, another exam which measures Teaching Field Knowledge for some branches was conducted. But the Physical Education graduates have to enter only the Public Personnel Selection Exam. This study is to find out the thoughts of the Physical Education graduates about the Public Personnel Selection Exam. In the research, The views of Physical Education Teacher graduates on Public Personnel Selection Exam, whether Teaching Field Knowledge questions should be asked or not, the views of teachers’ on these assignment style, views on this job for their future, in which field they see themselves successful, what kind of problems they face while getting ready for this exam and what their advices are for this exam were tried to be answered. Openended questions were asked to the candidates in this research. Interview method, which is one of the qualitative methods, was used for 50 candidates who have graduated from different universities. At the end of the research it was found that most of the Physical Education teacher candidates were opposed to Public Personnel Selection Exam because it was not adequate to designate and assign the teachers, the preparing phase for the exam was creating anxiety and fear, the exam was creating a negative point of view about teaching profession and it was not able to contribute a lot to the profession. In addition, as a result it was reached that teacher candidates were expressing their ideas as there should be field information exams besides Public Personnel Selection Exam also for physical education teacher candidate’s assignments like other branch teachers assignments. Keywords: physical education, teacher candidate, public personnel selection exam Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 1 Fikret Alıncak OPINIONS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER GRADUATES ON PUBLIC PERSONNEL SELECTION EXAM 1. Introduction In Education sector, the main factor is the teacher. Therefore, the capacity and the education level of the teacher are very important. It’s the oldest and one of the most important jobs in the world. Therefore, the personality, the capacity and the views towards the teaching job is very important. Sözer, 99 ; Alım and Bekdemir, Habits and behaviours of teachers affect the students as well. Varış, 9 ) Therefore, their attitudes towards the teaching job affect their quality of teaching as well. (Erdem et al., 2005) Teacher assignments are different in every country. In Turkey, teachers are selected by Public Personnel Selection Exam which is organized by an institution called Student Selection and Placement Center. There is also a similar system in some countries such as Germany, Austria, France, Spain, and Luxembourg and in some states of United States. These exams are usually paper based but sometimes they may be orally in some countries such as Belgium, Greece, Netherlands and Portugal. (Semerci and Özer, 2006) As the number of graduated teachers is more than the teacher assignments, this exam has to be done compulsorily. Therefore, Public personnel Selection Exam are practised by Student Selection and Placement Center every year. Doğan and Şahin, 9) Assignments are done according to their exam scores and wishes by Personnel General Management Association (Ministry of Education, 2010). When we look at the statistics, there are researches about this exam, anxieties of candidates, and views of teacher candidates in recent years. Bahar, Çimen and Yılmaz, Karaca, ; Döş and Sağır, ; Karataş and G(leş, Gökçe, 2012; Tösten et al., 20 ; Başt(rk, ; ; Eraslan, 2004; G(ndoğdu et al., 2008; ; Nartgun, ; Sezgin and Duran, ; Yılmaz and Altınkurt, ; Toker These researches are usually practised to those who are still in faculties or attending to the courses. Different datas from different groups are thought to help to find out different perspectives. Public Personnel Selection Exam is very important in the candidates’ lives. In this study, we aim the views of candidates about this exam. The present situation of this exam on these candidates is the main objective of this study. Qualified education can be obtained by only qualified teachers. Therefore, teachers should believe themselves first and should be full educated and should have positive behaviours towards their jobs. In this study, the views of Physical Education Teaching graduates are tried to find out and the questions below are tried to be answered. According to the Physical Education Teaching Graduates; 1. What are their general thoughts about Public Personnel Selection Exam? 2. Should Questions about their Field Knowledge asked or not? Why? 3. How should teacher candidates be assigned? Via Exam or not? 4. How does this exam affect their perspectives towards their jobs? European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 3 │ Issue 10 │ 2017 2 Fikret Alıncak OPINIONS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER GRADUATES ON PUBLIC PERSONNEL SELECTION EXAM 5. In which part of exam do they see themselves successful? General Cultural Knowledge, General ability or Educational Sciences? 6. Do they think that this exam will make a role in their jobs for the future? 7. What kind of problems do they face while getting prepared for this exam? 8. What are their expectations from this exam? 9. What are their advices for this exam? 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