Higher education in Türkiye in the shadow of chaos: A study on students from the faculty of education in times of crisis

The impact of recent pandemics and natural disasters on societies requires a multidimensional examination. Chaos theory, which posits that small changes in the initial conditions of complex systems can lead to significant and unpredictable outcomes over time, can serve as a framework for this analysis. This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes—both of which can be regarded as social problem situations within the framework of chaos theory—on pre-service teachers. This study, conducted during the 2023–2024 academic year, employed an explanatory case study design—a qualitative research approach—to explore the lived experiences of 27 students enrolled at Necmettin Erbakan University. The findings indicate that a considerable majority of participants reported a decline in motivation, encountered psychological difficulties, and recognized a lack of professional development opportunities, all of which were attributed to the inadequacies of distance education. Consequently, many students articulated feelings of insufficient preparation for the teaching profession. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the earthquakes of 2023, which are regarded as chaotic events in Türkiye, distance education was implemented. However, the distance education methods used by universities to maintain their educational services were generally found to be inadequate. As a result, students faced several psycho-social challenges during this period. Furthermore, research findings indicate a widespread belief among students that they lack adequate professional competencies.