Material elements of Turkish culture in North Macedonian textbooks

It is necessary to examine the representation of Turkish cultural elements in textbooks prepared for Turkish students in North Macedonia. There is insufficient information about the impact of this representation on students' cultural identity development and social integration processes. The aim of this research is to examine how Turkish cultural elements are represented in textbooks prepared for Turkish students in North Macedonia and to determine the impact of this representation on students' cultural identity development and social integration processes. Additionally, it aims to develop suggestions on how to increase cultural representation in educational materials. The research was designed as a qualitative study and the document analysis method was used. Textbooks prepared for Turkish students in North Macedonia were examined and the cultural elements in these books were analyzed. The data were evaluated using content analysis method. The findings of the research showed that Turkish cultural elements are not adequately represented in the textbooks and this situation negatively affects the cultural identity development of the students. It was determined that cultural representation in educational materials helps students to better express themselves and embrace their cultural identities. As a result of the study, it was discovered that the representation of Turkish cultural elements in educational materials for Turkish students in North Macedonia could play an important role in the development of students' cultural identities and social integration, but these aspects were not adequately addressed. Shaping education policies in this direction and updating educational materials will create a more inclusive and culturally diverse educational environment. This study also serves as an important reference point for other countries with similar cultural and educational structures.