Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Future Education

The aim of this research is to reveal pre-service teachers' perceptions of how students, teachers, parents, schools, and the education system will evolve in the future. The research was conducted using a qualitative research design, specifically phenomenology. Maximum diversity sampling, a type of purposeful sampling, was used to determine the study group. The study group consisted of 111 students studying in different departments of the Faculty of Education at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University during the 2024-2025 academic year. Research data were collected using a document form and a semi-structured interview form, and content analysis was used to analyse the data. According to the results, it was determined that students are expected to possess positive characteristics in the future, such as being technologically proficient, inquisitive, research-oriented, having learned how to learn, problem-solving, curious, sceptical, creative, active, self-controlled, and respectful of differences. In terms of negative characteristics, it was determined that students are expected to experience a decline in critical and creative thinking, problems with focus, and a lack of motivation towards school in the future. Although there were some differing opinions on the results of the research, it was generally determined that the importance of teachers, parents, and schools will either remain or increase in the future. It was also revealed that the future education system will be focused on technology and thinking skills, and that individualized education will come to the forefront. Furthermore, it was emphasized that measures should be taken to address the risk of education becoming exclusive to upper grades in future education systems. The future of education is generally discussed within a theoretical framework. This research provides original data to theoretical discussions by revealing the positioning of pre-service teachers, who will be the future implementers of the education system, regarding the transformation of the educational paradigm. It is also believed that the research findings will contribute to the structuring of teacher training policies.