EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE BİTLİS PEOPLE’S HOUSES

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the educational activities carried out in the People's Houses in Bitlis, focusing on the local context. In this context, it aims to reveal how the People's Houses function in the region in terms of increasing access to education, strengthening social participation, and supporting cultural continuity. Within the scope of the research, the courses opened in the People’s Houses, the profile of participants, duration of attendance, motivations, and perceived benefits are evaluated on the basis of both field data and institutional records. The findings indicate that the People’s Houses provided an alternative space for learning and socialization especially for women and young people; and that, in addition to basic skills, they strengthened self-confidence, sense of belonging, and willingness to participate in the public sphere. On the other hand, structural problems such as institutional capacity, physical conditions, continuity, and the lack of professional educators limited the impact and sustainability of the educational activities. The study positions the Bitlis People’s Houses as a public learning space located outside but complementary to the formal education system, closely intertwined with local dynamics, and it offers concrete institutional and policy recommendations for strengthening this structure.