This article attempts to discuss the sources and basic principles of Atatürk’s policy of education. Atatürk’s education policy was formed with regard to two basic considerations. The first was that the education in Ottoman empire was disorganized, far from being national and not based on science. The second concerns the functional approach to education in the development of the new Turkish Republic and the spread of revolutions. The following ten principles were determined as the basic principles of education policy: Education must be national, scientific, co-educational, practical, secular and disciplined; importance must be given to adult education, unity in education must be provided, teachers must be appreciated, and incidental equality in education must be provided.

Keywords: Atatürk, education, policy