The aim of the this study was to analyze the decision making process of Public Education Centers (PECs) in Istanbul, Turkey in terms of ways of decision making, participation, effect of outsiders and environment, problems in decision making process, and democracy and happiness level. Data revealed interesting results: Decision making process in PECs in Istanbul was described as an autocratic process, in which majority of the decisions were made by the principals, except decisions related to course programs and participants. Limited participation was allowed for the full-time and part-time teachers and tutors and involvement of participants in decision making was very limited as well. Moreover, governmental institutions, like Provincial and Sub-provincial Directorates of National Education, governor of province and sub-provinces, NGOs and headman of the district had an effect on the decision making. The biggest problem of decision making indicated was lack of collective decision making. However, it is interesting that decision making process was considered democratic by the subjects and they reported that they were very happy to work in public education centers.

Filiz Keser Aschenberger completed both her BA and MA at Bogazici University respectively in English Language Teaching and in Adult Education. She is about to finalize her PhD thesis which is on educational policy making process in Middle East Technical University. She is a former Fulbright Scholar and the translator of a published book.