Abstract

Lifelong learning involves conscious and purposeful continuation of learning throughout life. Lifelong education is a very broad concept aiming for individuals’ personal, social and professional development and for continuing that all through life.Public education centers are widespread educational institutions in support of lifelong education within Turkish educational system. Therefore, public education centers play a key role in meeting educational needs of the people of our developing country. Especially the adult literacy courses offered in these centers has had a pioneering role in literacy campaigns in society. Students of primary school education departments of faculties of education were provided with hands-on experience tasks in literacy courses offered in public education centers so that their training could be enhanced and their social awareness could be increased. In this study, each student attending literacy program was paired with a teacher candidate ensuring that they would collaborate. The duration of the project was planned as 60 days and teacher candidates and students worked together twice a week for a period of studying hours determined by the pairs themselves. 26 primary school teacher candidates participating in the project were interviewed to determine the efficiency of the project in terms of teaching profession. The descriptive analysis method was used to analyze the data obtained. Two field experts and the researcher conducted independent studies in forming the interview coding key. The final draft of the coding key was formed in light of the agreement reached between the experts and the researcher. The findings and interpretations were shaped in accordance with the themes and sub-themes formed and quotes from the statements made by the interviewee teacher candidates were included. The conclusion and suggestions were developed based on the findings.