Experiential Learning and Authentic Education: Tonguç in Antalya

Experiential Learning and Authentic Education: Tonguç in Antalya

Hilmi explains that the fundamental reason for initiating this educational program was his recognition of our ignorance. In friendly gatherings and meetings where the Village Institutes are discussed, he observed that much of what is said consists of formulaic expressions, and he frequently encountered misinformation and distortions, which he finds deeply saddening. He emphasizes that there is a rich body of knowledge about the Village Institutes, including works such as Tonguç’s The Village to Be Revitalized, yet very few people have actually read them.

The educational program organized by the Antalya Branch of the New Generation Village Institute Members Association is structured around participants studying the sources in advance and arriving prepared with research and reflection. At times, direct readings from texts are conducted, much like Fakir Baykurt practiced all the time. Participants consist of association members and others interested in the subject. Although teacher candidates are not yet involved, the participation of retired teachers carries a distinct significance.

Hilmi states that his intention is precisely to confront these challenges and approach the subject with a genuine desire to understand. “Pakize Türkoğlu had already done the hard part by writing Tonguç and the Institutes. That book addresses the subject in exactly the content and sequence I was seeking, explaining it meticulously.” Building on that work, Hilmi developed a program designed to provoke reflection. “Teachers need to free their minds from rote learning and classroom-bound education and transform them in line with the contemporary spirit of the Village Institutes.”

Professor Dr. Hilmi Uysal and Pakize Türkoğlu’s book Tonguç and the Institutes, which forms the backbone of the educational program

While working at the World Health Organization, I implemented experiential and authentic learning within the framework of Tonguç’s educational principles through the Global Learning Opportunities network I established. My greatest hope is that Hilmi’s efforts will resonate, expand, and touch the lives of those who participate in this learning programme.

“The central element of the Village Institutes’ legacy is their philosophy of education. Through the principle of ‘education through work, within work, for work,’ they demonstrate that a new human being can emerge only through an approach that is not based on rote memorization, not confined within classroom walls, but embedded in life itself—an education that nourishes democratic and free creative thought, inspires and encourages, fosters self-creation and self-discovery, and strengthens the joy and enthusiasm for living and learning within each person. In short, we must show that such a contemporary educational philosophy—one that truly makes a human being human—has existed, was achieved in the past, and can be achieved again today.”