Invisible Childhoods in the Shadow of COVID-19: Educational Access and Family Lives of Children Involved in Seasonal Agricultural Migration

Öz

COVID-19 has caused severe disruptions in children's access to education, especially among vulnerable groups. This study aims to examine the experiences of children participating in seasonal agricultural migration in accessing education before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the changes in their family life from the perspectives of both children and their mothers. This study used the case study method from qualitative research designs and conducted semi-structured interviews with 50 children and 50 mothers living in Şanlıurfa province who participate in seasonal agricultural migration every year, using appropriate sampling. The data were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Three main themes emerged from the analysis. These were: 1. Access to education before and during COVID, 2. Family life and relationship dynamics during the pandemic, 3. Expectations and concerns for the future. The findings revealed that many children who attended school before COVID-19 were unable to participate in the distance learning process. The digital divide, lack of equipment, workload, and environmental factors were identified as the primary barriers to accessing to education. In terms of family relationships, financial problems, increased workload, and conflicts between parents and children were observed. Among the expectations and concerns of children and mothers for the future, the desire to continue education, learning losses, the desire to have a profession, and the fear of early marriage stood out. This study revealed that children participating in seasonal agricultural migration became increasingly invisible in education under COVID-19 conditions and that structural inequalities deepened. The findings underscore the need to develop inclusive and flexible education policies for disadvantaged children during times of crisis.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Seasonal agricultural migration
• COVID-19
• access to education
• child labor
• inclusive education

COVID-19'un Gölgesinde Görünmez Çocukluklar: Mevsimlik Tarım Göçüne Katılan Çocukların Eğitim Erişimi ve Aile Yaşamları

Öz

Covid-19 pandemisi, özellikle kırılgan gruplardaki çocukların eğitime erişiminde ciddi kesintilere yol açmıştır. Bu çalışma, mevsimlik tarım göçüne katılan çocukların pandemi öncesinde ve pandemi sürecinde eğitime erişim deneyimlerini ve aile yaşantılarında meydana gelen değişimleri çocuklar ve annelerin perspektifinden incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma desenlerinden durum çalışması kullanılmış, uygun örnekleme ile Şanlıurfa ilinde yaşayan, her yıl mevsimlik tarım göçüne katılan 50 çocuk ve 50 anne ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler içerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda üç ana tema ortaya çıkmıştır. Bunlar; 1. Covid öncesi ve Covid döneminde eğitime erişim, 2. Pandemi sürecinde aile yaşantıları ve ilişki dinamikleri, 3. Geleceğe yönelik beklenti ve kaygılar olarak belirlenmiştir. Bulgular, pandemi öncesinde okula devam eden birçok çocuğun uzaktan eğitim sürecine katılım sağlayamadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Dijital uçurum, ekipman eksikliği, iş yükü ve çevresel etkenler eğitime erişimde temel engeller olarak belirlenmiştir. Aile içi ilişkilerde ise maddi sorunlar, iş yükünde artış ve ebeveyn-çocuk arasında çatışmalar yaşandığı görülmüştür. Çocukların ve annelerin geleceğe yönelik beklenti ve kaygıları arasında eğitime devam etme isteği, öğrenme kayıpları, meslek sahibi olma arzusu ve erken yaşta evlilik korkusu öne çıkmıştır. Çalışma, pandemi koşullarında mevsimlik tarım göçüne katılan çocukların eğitimde görünmez kaldığını ve yapısal eşitsizliklerin derinleştiğini göstermektedir. Bu doğrultuda, kriz dönemlerinde dezavantajlı çocuklar için kapsayıcı ve esnek eğitim politikalarının geliştirilmesi gerektiği vurgulanmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mevsimlik tarım göçü
• COVID-19
• eğitime erişim
• çocuk işçiliği
• kapsayıcı eğitim

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