Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Syrian Refugee Children's Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers' Experiences

Year 2022, Issue: 29, 265 - 284, 31.01.2022

Abstract

This study aims to explain the problems encountered in the education of Syrian children with the experiences of Turkish teachers. A descriptive qualitative research method was used for the study. The participants of the study were 70 elementary school teachers. The participants were selected based on the sampling criterion. The study data were collected through structured interviews. The participants were asked structured questions, and they responded as written to the questions. At the end of the study, the most significant responsibility in Syrian 'children's adjustment to the education system in Turkey falls on the shoulders of primary school teachers. Turkish primary school teachers clearly stated that the main reason for all problems they experienced was the language difference. The study results revealed that not being able to solve the communication problem deepens the problem and creates an emotional pressure on primary school teachers refugee children.

References

  • Akgul, A., Kapti, A. & Demir, O.O. (2015). Migration and public policies: An analysis of Syrian Crisis. The Global: A Journal of Policy and Strategy, 1(2), 1-22.
  • Akkaya, A. (2013). Syrian 'refugees' perceptions of the Turkish language. Ekev Academic Journal 17 (56), 179–190.
  • Alba, R., & Foner, N. (2015). Strangers no more: Immigration and the challenges of integration in North America and Western Europe. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  • Alpaydın, Y. (2017). An analysis of educational policies for school-aged Syrian refugees in Turkey. Journal of Education and Training Studies 5 (9), 36–44.
  • Arabacı, İ. B., Basar, M., Akan, D., & Goksoy, S. (2014). An analysis about educational problems in camps in which Syrian refugees stay: Condition analysis. International Journal of Social Sciences & Education, 4(3), 80-94.
  • Aras, B., & Yasun, S. (2016). The educational opportunities and challenges of Syrian refugee students in Turkey: temporary education centers and beyond. Monograph. Istanbul Policy Center.
  • Retrieved from https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/29697/1/syrianrefugees.pdf
  • Arık Akyuz, B. M., Aksoy, D., Madra, A., & Polat, E. (2018). Evolution of national policy in Turkey on the integration of Syrian children into the national education system. (Background paper for Global Education Monitoring Report 2019). Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/ images/0026/002660/266069e.pdf
  • Aydin, H., Gundogdu, M., & Akgul, A. (2019). Integration of Syrian refugees in Turkey: understanding the 'educators' perception. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 19(1), 1-12.
  • Aydin, H., &. Kaya, Y. (2017). The educational needs of and barriers faced by Syrian refugee students in Turkey: A qualitative case study. International Education, 28(5), 456-473.
  • Aydin, H., & Kaya, Y. (2019). Education for Syrian refugees: The new global ıssue facing teachers and principals in Turkey. Educational Studies, 55(1), 46-71.
  • Bahadır, H., & Ucku, R. (2020). Working situations and the factors affecting the working situation of Syrian children between the age of 6-17 living in a neıghbourhood of Izmir. Dokuz Eylul Universitesi Tıp Fakultesi Dergisi, 30(3), 117-124.
  • Balkan, B., & Tumen, S. (2016). Immigration and prices: Quasi-experimental evidence from Syrian refugees in Turkey. Journal of Population Economics, 29 (3), 657-686.
  • Bircan, T. & Sunata, U. (2015). Education assessment of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Migration Letters, 12(3), 226-237.
  • Brugha, M., Hollow, D., Pacitto, J., Gladwell, C., Dhillon, P., & Ashlee, A. (2021). Historical mapping of education provision for refugees: A cross-cutting and comparative analysis of three country contexts. Jigsaw Consult, United Kingdom.
  • Celik, C., & Icduygu, A. (2018). Schools and refugee children: The case of Syrians in Turkey, International Migration 57(2), 253-567.
  • Cinkir, S. (2015). Turkey. In Curriculum, accreditation, and certification for Syrian Children in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt (pp. 40-55). UNICEF.
  • İstanbul Bilgi Universitesi Cocuk Calısmaları Birimi [COCA] (2015). Suriyeli multeci cocuklarin turkiye devlet okullarindaki durumu politika ve uygulama onerileri (the conditions of Syrian refugee children in Turkish public schools and policy advice for implementation) Retrieved from http://cocuk.bilgi.edu.tr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Suriyeli-Cocuklar- Egitim-Sistemi-Politika-Notu.pdf .
  • Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
  • Crul, M., Lelie, F., Keskiner, E., Schneider, J., & Biner, O. (2019). Lost in transit. Education for refugee children in Sweden, Germany, and Turkey. In M. Suárez-Orozco (Eds.), Humanitarianism and mass migration: Confronting the world crisis, (pp.268–290). Oakland: University of California Press.
  • Dejong, J., Ghattas, H., Bashour, H., Mourtada, R., Akik, C. & Masterson-Reese, A. (2017). Reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health in conflict: A case study on Syria using Countdown indicators. BMJ Global Health, 2, 1-13.
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). (2021). Civil society and state engagement in the refugee Response in Turkey: Law and regulations, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CLIP_Sustainability_Report.pdf
  • Duruel, M. (2016). Education issue of Syrian refugees. Ataturk University Journal of Economics and Admibistrative Sciences, 30(5), 1399–1414.
  • Emin, M.N. (2016). Education of Syrian children in Turkey: Basic education policy. Ankara: SETA.
  • Erdem, C. (2017). Sınıfında multeci ogrenci bulunan sınıf ogretmenlerinin yasadıkları ogretimsel sorunlar ve cozume dair onerileri. Medeniyet Egitim Arastırmaları Dergisi, 1 (1), 26-42.
  • Erden, O. (2020). The effect of local discourses adapted by teachers on Syrian child 'refugees' schooling experiences in Turkey. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 1-15.
  • Eren, A. & Cavusoglu, C. (2021). Stigmatization and othering: the case of Syrian students in Turkish schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 1-20.
  • Farhat, B.J., Blanchet, K., Bjertrup, J.P., Veizis, A., Perrin, C., Coulborn, M.R., Mayaud, P. & Cohuet, S. (2018). Syrian refugees in Greece: experience with violence, mental health status, and access to information during the journey and while in Greece. BMC Medicine 16(40), 1-12.
  • Hamdan-Mansour, M. A., Razeq, A.M., Abdulhaq, B., Arabiat, D., & Khalil, A.A. (2017). Displaced Syrian 'children's reported physical and mental wellbeing. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 22(4), 186-193.
  • Hassan, G., Ventevogel, P., Jefee-Bahloul, H., Oteo-Barkil, A. & Kirmayer, L.J. (2016). Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Syrians affected by armed conflict. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 25(2), 129-141.
  • Hattie, J. (2015). What works best in education: The politics of collaborative expertise. London: Pearson
  • Hilt, L.T. (2015). Included as excluded and excluded as included Minority language pupils in Norwegian inclusion policy. International Journal of Inclusive Education 19(2), 165–182.
  • Human Rights Watch [HRW]. (2015). Turkey: 400,000 Syrian children not in school. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/11/08/turkey-400000-syrian-children-not-school
  • Icduygu, A. (2015). Syrian refugees in Turkey the long road ahead. Transatlantic Council on Migration A Project of the Migration Policy Institute. Retrieved from https://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/TCM-Protection-Syria.pdf.
  • Imamoglu, V.H., & Calıskan, E. (2017). Opinions of teachers on the primary education of foreign students in public schools: The case of Sinop province. Karabuk
  • Universitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitusu Dergisi, 7(2), 529-546.
  • Kagnici, Y.D. (2017). School 'counselors' roles and responsibilities in the cultural adaptation process of Syrian refugee children. Elementary Education Online, 16(4), 1768-1776.
  • Kanat, K., & Ustun, K. (2015). U.S-Turkey realignment on Syria. Middle East Policy, 22 (4), 88-97.
  • Karasu, M.A. (2016). Sanlıurfa'da yasayan Suriyeli sıgınmacıların kentle uyum sorunu. Suleyman Demirel Universitesi İ.İ.B.F. Dergisi, 21(3), 997-1016.
  • Karsli-Calamak, E., & Kilinc, S. (2021) Becoming the teacher of a refugee child: 'Teachers' evolving experiences in Turkey. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 25(2), 259-282,
  • Kilinc, S. (2019). Who will fit in with whom? Inclusive Education Struggles for Students with disabilities. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23 (12), 1296–1314.
  • Lambert, V.A., & Lambert, C.E. (2012). Qualitative descriptive research: An acceptable design. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 16, 255–256.
  • Levent, F. & Cayak, S. (2017). School administrators vies on Syrian students’ education in Turkey. Hasan Ali Yucel Egitim Fakultesi Dergisi, 14(1), 17-35. Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage
  • McBrien, J.L. (2005). Education needs and barriers for refugee students in the United States a review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 75(3), 329-364.
  • Miles, B.M., & Huberman, A.M. (1994). An expanded sourcebook qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Nayir, F. (2017). Problems and suggested solutions during the refugee education process. In Innovation and Global Issues in Social Sciences Congress publications (pp. 120- 122). 27- 29 April 2017.
  • OECD (2005). The labor market integration of immigrants in Germany. OECD, Paris. Retrieved from
  • https://www.oecdilibrary.org/docserver/238411133860.pdf?expires=1637252355&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=8F51A9600EE0ADE7060416088ED7BF51
  • Olsen, L. (2000). Learning English and learning America: Immigrants in the eye of a storm. Theory into Practice, 39(4), 196-202.
  • Ozmen, K. Z. (2020). The problems that Syrian refugee children, class teachers, and Turkish children face in the school environment from the standpoint of trainee teachers. Educational Research and Reviews, 15(9), 554-563.
  • Qaddour, K. (2017). Educating Syrian refugees in Turkey. Washington: DC Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  • Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan (3RP) (2021). Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan in response to the Syria crisis. Turkey. [http://www.3rpsyriacrisis.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/02/TURKEY-3RP-Regional-Refugee-and-Resilience-Plan-2020-2021.pdf] (accessed 23 February 2021). Retrieved from https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents
  • Rumbaut, R.G., & Portes, A. (2001). The forging of a new America: Lessons for theory and policy. In R.G. Rumbaut & A. Portes (Eds.), Ethnicities: children of immigrants in America (pp. 301-317). Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Sammons, P. & Bakkum, L. (2012). Effective schools, equity and teacher effectiveness: a review of the literature. Profesorado Revista de Curriculum y Formación Del Profesorado, 15(3), 9-26.
  • Sandelowski, M. (2010). 'What's in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Research in Nursing & Health, 33, 77–84.
  • Sarmini, I., Topcu, E., & Scharbrodt, O. (2020). Integrating Syrian refugee children in Turkey: The role of Turkish language skills (A case study in Gaziantep). International Journal of Educational Research Open, 1, 100007.
  • Song, S. (2011). Second-generation Turkish youth in Europe: explaining the academic disadvantage in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Economics of Education Review, 30(5): 938– 949.
  • Soykoek, S., Mall, V., Nehring, I., Henningsen, P. & Aberl, S. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder in Syrian children of a German refugee camp. The Lancelt Healthy Longevity, 389, 903- 904.
  • Stéger, C. (2014) Review and analysis of the E.U. teacher-related policies and activities. European Journal of Education, 49, 332– 347.
  • Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
  • Suarez-Orozco, C., & Suarez-Orozco, M.M. (2001). Children of immigration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  • Sunata, U., & Abdulla, A. (2019). Lessons from experiences of Syrian civil society in refugee education of Turkey. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies 18 (4), 434–447.
  • Tas, Y.H. & Ozcan, S. (2018). Analysis of Syrian immigrant problems in the field of social policies. HAK-İS Uluslararası Emek ve Toplum, 7(17), 36-54.
  • Taskin, P., & Erdemli, O. (2018). Education for Syrian refugees: Problems faced by teachers in Turkey. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 75, 155-178.
  • Tunga Y., Engin G., & Cagıltay, K. (2020). A Literature Review on the Issues Encountered in Educating Syrian Children in Turkey. Inonu University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 21(1), 317-333.
  • Uzun, E.M., & Butun, E. (2016). Okul oncesi egitim kurumlarındaki Suriyeli sıgınmacı cocukların karsılastıkları sorunları hakkında ogretmen gorusleri. Uluslararası Erken Cocukluk Egitimi Calısmaları Dergisi, 1(1), 72-83.
  • UNHCR (2018). https://reliefweb.int/report/world/unhcr-global-report-2018
  • UNESCO. (2005). Guidelines for Inclusion: Ensuring Access to Education for All. Paris: UNESCO.
  • Retrieved from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines_for_Inclusion_UNESCO_2006.pdf
  • Williamson McDiarmid, G., & Clevenger-Bright, M. (2008). Rethinking teacher capacity.In M, Cochran-Smith, S. Feiman-Nemser and D. Mc Intyre (Eds.), Handbook of research on teacher education: enduring questions in changing contexts (third edition) New York: Routledge/Taylor Francis and the Association of Teacher Educators.
  • Willis, D.G., Sullivan-Bolyai, S., Knafl, K. & Cohen, Z.M. (2016). Distinguishing features and similarities between descriptive phenomenological and qualitative description research. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 38(9), 1185-1204.
  • Yigit, H.İ., & Tatch, A. (2017). Syrian refugees and Americans: Perceptions, attitudes, and insights. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 1(1), 13-31.
  • Yildirimalp, S., Islamoglu, E. & Iyem, C. (2017). Suriyeli sıgınamcıların toplumsal kabul ve uyum surecine iliskin bir arastırma. Bilgi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 2, 107-126.
There are 74 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Nurhan Atalay This is me

Zeynep Kılıç This is me

Burcu Anılan This is me

Hüseyin Anılan This is me

Şengül Saime Anagün This is me

Publication Date January 31, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Issue: 29

Cite

APA Atalay, N., Kılıç, Z., Anılan, B., Anılan, H., et al. (2022). Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi(29), 265-284.
AMA Atalay N, Kılıç Z, Anılan B, Anılan H, Anagün ŞS. Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences. Derginin Amacı ve Kapsamı. January 2022;(29):265-284.
Chicago Atalay, Nurhan, Zeynep Kılıç, Burcu Anılan, Hüseyin Anılan, and Şengül Saime Anagün. “Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences”. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi, no. 29 (January 2022): 265-84.
EndNote Atalay N, Kılıç Z, Anılan B, Anılan H, Anagün ŞS (January 1, 2022) Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi 29 265–284.
IEEE N. Atalay, Z. Kılıç, B. Anılan, H. Anılan, and Ş. S. Anagün, “Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences”, Derginin Amacı ve Kapsamı, no. 29, pp. 265–284, January 2022.
ISNAD Atalay, Nurhan et al. “Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences”. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi 29 (January 2022), 265-284.
JAMA Atalay N, Kılıç Z, Anılan B, Anılan H, Anagün ŞS. Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences. Derginin Amacı ve Kapsamı. 2022;:265–284.
MLA Atalay, Nurhan et al. “Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences”. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi, no. 29, 2022, pp. 265-84.
Vancouver Atalay N, Kılıç Z, Anılan B, Anılan H, Anagün ŞS. Syrian Refugee Children’s Education in Turkish Public Schools: Primary School Teachers’ Experiences. Derginin Amacı ve Kapsamı. 2022(29):265-84.