Pre-service Teachers’ Views on Intangible Cultural Heritage and its Protection

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was accepted on 17th October 2003 at the 32nd General Conference of UNESCO. In this agreement, intangible cultural heritage is defined as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated there with communities, groups and in some cases, individuals recognized as part of their cultural heritage. This study aims to identify the views of fourth grade students from the Nigde University Primary School Teaching and Social Studies Teaching departments on this intangible cultural heritage and its protection. The Intangible Cultural Heritage Questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. According to the findings, preservice teachers’ interest levels on intangible cultural heritage are not sufficient. Their views on culture are generally favorable.