ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL HARMONY EXPERIENCES OF SYRIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN USKUDAR

In Turkey, which hosts Syrian refugees at the highest number in the world, at first short-term plans has been made with the assumption that the Syrians would go back. But with continuation of the war, the destruction of habitat and arrivals increasing day by day, the children's education issue has been taken on the agenda starting planning more long-term planning decisions. As an immediate response to this problem, Temporary Training Centre (TTC) in their own language and curriculum which has been emerged in the leadership of NGOs haven’t been adequate. In Turkey where there are about one million Syrian at school age, the good management of the process of the transition from TTCs to the public schools, the adaptation planning of the parents, administrators and teachers to the new situation have become more of an issue in the means of the students’ academic and social adaptation. At this study which aims to show the academic and social harmony of the Syrian students who study in secondary school, the opinions of 13 Syrians students, 7 teachers and 3 school administrators has taken and evaluated and recommendations are presented. The basic finding of the research is the main factor that makes the academic harmony of the secondary school students difficult is the lack of reading and writing skills in Turkish. It has been observed that about social harmony, the 9th grade students particularly have various problems such as exclusion from group games and activities. Based on views of Syrian students on their acceptance by their friends, it is apparent that students face issues in terms of acceptance by their friends particularly at grade 9 when they start school. The issues include various negative behaviors such as preclusion from activities and games and receiving harsh treatment. New students require more academic and social support and that this support improves their harmonization during higher grades.

Keywords

Syrians Students, Secondary School, Academic Harmony, Social Harmony, Temporary Training Centre (TTC