An evaluation of the attitudes and competencies of 14–18 year-old students in imam hatip high schools and qur'ān courses towards the Qur'an course (the case of Şirnak province)

In this study, the current attitudes and competencies of students attending Imam Hatip High Schools and Qur'an courses in the Şırnak province and its districts towards the Qur'an course were examined. The objectives of the study included promoting the correct understanding of the Qur'an, enabling a deeper comprehension, increasing its influence on religious life, encouraging interest in reading translations (meals), and making the lessons enjoyable. In addition, students' attitudes and competencies towards the Qur'an course, as well as their sense of achievement and their relationship with spiritual life, were also evaluated. In this study, the attitudes and competencies of students aged 14–18 studying in Imam Hatip High Schools and Qur'an courses towards the Qur'an course were analyzed in relation to gender, age, type of school attended, and status of Qur'an memorization. This study consists of two parts: the first part discusses the definition, purpose, importance, and historical background of the Qur'an; the second part evaluates the findings obtained through surveys. As a result, it was revealed that most students approached the Qur'an course with religious motivation and learned it for the sake of Allah's approval, and that the Qur'an course gave them spiritual satisfaction. No difference was observed between male and female students in terms of their attitudes towards the Qur'an course, which indicated that equality in education between genders had increased in the curriculum and that both genders gave equal importance to religious education. Although there were developmental differences in the attitudes of students between the ages of 14 and 18 depending on age, this was identified as being related to the adolescence period. The more comprehensive religious education received by Imam Hatip High School students led them to approach the lessons with a more professional perspective. Finally, differences in attitudes were observed between students who had memorized the Qur'an and those who had not; students who had memorized the Qur'an were found to exhibit a more disciplined and in-depth attitude. These findings provide significant insights reflecting students' different motivations in religious education, educational environments, and personal development.