Refugee Students Views about the Problems They Face at Schools in Turkey

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 45 - 58, 29.07.2018

Mehmet Nuri Gömleksiz , Sibel Aslan

https://doi.org/10.22596/erj2018.0301.45.58

Abstract

The aim of this study
is to determine secondary refugee students’ views about the problems they faced
at Turk schools. In this direction, the refugee students’ views about methods
& and techniques the teachers used in the class; school culture, rules,
interaction, problems they have with their school friends; and the support of
their families were determined. Moreover, their views about the school
subjects, content, gains and necessity of these subjects;  their competence in using Turkish; and their
previous education’s effect on their current education were determined. In this
study, qualitative research design was used. The study group consisted of the
refugee students enrolled at two state schools in Elazığ city center in
2017-2018 academic year, second term. Maximum variation sampling method was
used in the study. In determination of school, whether there are refugee
students or not at that school was considered. From each school eight refugee
students  were selected and totally 16
refugee students were included in the study. In determination of these
students, the views of headmaster and deputies head of the secondary school and
teachers were considered. Volunteer refugee students participated to the study.
A semi-structured interview form, which was designed by the researcher was used
for data collection. Six semi- structured questions were asked to identify
refugee students’ views about the problems they faced. These questions were
reviewed by a professor and two assistant professors. The clarity of questions
were negotiated with three secondary school teachers. With refugee students
whom do not know any Turkish or English, the interview had through a
translator. Study results revealed that refugee students have some problems at
Turk schools because of several reasons like medium of instruction, courses
contents, the lack of family support, school culture- rules, and methods&
techniques teachers used. Several recommendations are offered based on the
research findings.     

Keywords

refugee student, refugee student education, education problems, education problem of refugee

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