Understanding What You Read From Ihsâu’l Ulûm to Modern Education: Turkey's PISA Test Performance

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to reveal the deficiencies in students' reading comprehension skills in the Turkish education system and to evaluate the importance of linguistics in Farabi's Ihsâu'l Ulûm from the perspective of modern education. Design/Methodology/Approach: In the research, Farabi's “Ihsâu'l Ulûm”, PISA test results and various academic studies were used. By applying literature review and text analysis method, the data were evaluated with theoretical comparison and interpretation techniques. Findings: It was found that students in Turkey scored below the OECD average in PISA tests in terms of reading comprehension ability. The main reasons for this situation were found as school type, socio-economic status, inadequacy of educational materials and discontinuity in the education system. It was also observed that al-Farabi considered the science of language as the basis of all sciences and emphasized that expressing and understanding thoughts correctly requires mastery of language rules. The views of al-Farabi, stating that grammar is prioritized over logic in education, serve as a guide in solving modern educational problems. Highlights: In order to improve students' reading and comprehension skills, it is necessary to increase access to materials, update educational content with a focus on analysis and interpretation, and ensure continuity and stability in educational policies.