Evaluaation of Syrian children's education status in Turkey: Kızıltepe sample

This study is aimed at analysing the educational experience and problems faced by the immigrant children who immigrated to Turkey and settled in Kızıltepe district of Mardin province in 2011 following the Syrian civil war, and determining the problematic areas and proposing solutions to their educational issues. Within the scope of this qualitative research, a total of 45 individuals consisting of 20 Syrian secondary school students, 6 parents, 5 teachers, 3 Syrian volunteer trainers (coordinators), 5 educational institution managers, 2 provincial-district national education managers (branch managers) and 4 non-governmental organization managers (2 from the union, 2 from the association) were thoroughly interviewed. When we examine the educational status of the Syrian children who continue their education in Kızıltepe, where we conducted a field study, it is seen that the main problem they face in the school is the language and communication problems. Almost all of the participants stated that children had difficulty in language and communication. In addition to this basic problem, Syrian children have problems in their education, such as difficulty in understanding the lessons, failure in lessons, exclusion and prejudice, and inability to adapt to school culture. Suggestions such as increasing Turkish language courses, implementing different programs and providing expert support to refugee children during the education process have come to the fore in order to solve the problems experienced during the education process. In addition, increasing the guidance activities, focusing on socialization activities and providing in-service training to all staff in the school are among the other suggestions.