The problems faced by Syrian and Afghanistan national students living in Trabzon in distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic

The phenomenon of migration is one of the social phenomena that should be emphasized the most with its causes and consequences. In particular, with the intensity and depth of international migration, which came to the fore in the 21st century, it has become an important issue all over the world. People migrate to places where they can feel safer and better and lead a better life with themselves or with their families due to adverse living conditions, war, turmoil and conflict or for different reasons. The closest example of this situation is the so-called Arab Spring, which started in Tunisia and showed its effects in many countries, especially in Syria, as a result of internal turmoil, which is more massive in nature. In the face of that events, Turkey has opened its doors to immigrants from countries especially from Syria and then Afghanistan and Lebanon. Another issue that has left its mark on the 21st century with migration and especially forced migration is the Covid-19 pandemic, which started in China in 2019 and spread rapidly to other continents of the world. The effect of the pandemic has been felt in Turkey as well as all over the world, and the relevant precautions have been taken immediately in the fight against the pandemic. Except for compulsory places, schools, universities, most public institutions and all workplaces in the private sector have been closed and life has come to a standstill. With the closure of schools, education started to be given from different platforms via the internet. Millions of students at the age of formal education in the world and in Turkey have been adversely affected by this situation. This situation more deeply affected people who migrate and be refugee in different countries due to war, violence, conflict environment, etc. Especially not knowing the mother tongue in the destination country, the problem of 'language' has brought different problems in education to the agenda. In addition, the closure of schools due to the pandemic and the continuation of education online on digital platforms have deeply affected the Syrians under temporary protection in our country, as well as the citizens of Afghanistan and other nationalities who took refuge in our country in order to find international protection. This research is designed to reveal the educational experiences and positive and negative aspects of distance education of Syrians under temporary protection living in Trabzon and students of Afghanistan nationality who took refuge in our country in order to find international protection. Qualitative research method was used by conducting in-depth interviews to collect data in the research. Participants were reached from the Provincial Directorate of National Education, Trabzon Afghanistan Hazaras Culture and Solidarity Association and other relevant non-governmental organizations. The data obtained as a result of the research were subjected to descriptive analysis. In the general findings that emerged after the analysis of the data, it was revealed that Syrians under temporary protection and students from Afghanistan who took refuge in our country in order to find international protection had some educational problems and had problems with the distance education system, especially access to distance education tools and language problems. In the light of the data obtained, suggestions were made for Syrians under temporary protection and for students from Afghanistan who took refuge in our country in order to find international protection to receive a more efficient education in the distance education system.