The effect of migraration on student's educational experience

Migration is the movement that affects a number of phenomena such as settlement, transportation, culture and civilization. One of these effects is certainly the impact of migration on education. This impact may change according to the location and the type of education. The aim of this study is to reveal the effects of migration on education within the framework of different dimensions. In order to achieve this aim, the province of Ankara was chosen as the area of investigation and the field research has been conducted. In order to investigate the kinds of impacts of migration on students' educational experiences in cognitive, emotional and social terms, secondary schools which had been subject to migration were selected using purposive sampling method. In this context, during the period of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, 43 male and female students of 6th, 7th and 8th grades who immigrated to Ankara within the last two years as well as the 16 branch counselors (teachers) were interviewed face to face. In addition, a questionnaire was conducted to 120 students, 120 parents and 60 branch counselors (teachers). Research instruments included interview, questionnaire, socio-demographic form and observation form. The statistical analysis of data from the questionnaire and socio-demographic form (%, frequency, average) was conducted using SPSS software. The analysis of interview data along with the observation notes was carried out using Grounded Theory method developed by Strauss and Corbin (1998). The results revealed many problems, among them: the students subject to migration were faced with a number of problems as they did not receive any orientation training; the students' academic achievement dropped down although they were satisfied with the city, school and education they had received, they experienced different psychological problems; they did not get any social gains; parents and teachers' level of awareness of students' educational experiences is rather low. Evaluation of findings imply some suggestions concerning educational experience of migrated students: The Ministry of Education should define a national policy of immigration, students and parents should receive orientation training, and the teachers should participate in activities such as conferences, workshops, panels dedicated to migration and education offered on individual and institutional basis. Key Words: Education, educational life, migration.