(Eqtsad)- The integration decision of Syrian students within the Turkish schools has caused confusion for Syrian students and their families due to differences in implementing the decision among states in Turkey, and even within the same state.
The ministry of Education has issued decision to start teaching in Turkish language to all students of the first grade of each stage (grades 1st, 5th, 9th).
Implementing the decision went smoothly among students of first grade, however, implementing it face various problems in grad 5 and grade 9 among different states and even within the same state.
To help students of grade-5 in coping with the Turkish language, some schools opened special classes for Syrians where they are taught the Turkish language in first term, while in the second they are taught the curriculum intensively.
Other schools merged Syrian students directly with Turkish without any preparation stage for understanding language.
The difference in the mechanism of implementing the decision cause worries among students’ families. Abo Rasheed, a father of a student in Gaziantep, mentioned that his son was not able to understand lessons because they were given in Turkish language, he wished that the Ministry of Education could allocate special lessons to teach Syrians the language before putting them in Turkish schools and study Turkish curriculum.
Rabee, a father of a grade-5 student mentioned that his son was put in a special class with other Syrians to teach them the Turkish language, but he is worried that his son could find difficulties in understanding the intensified curriculum in second term.
A major problem faces students of gade-9, exclusively in Gaziantep as it forces vocational and Sharea teaching on Syrian students, although the ministry’s decision indicates the free choice of students to decide. Other Turkish states gave students the freedom to join the specialty they want.
“I am worried about our children’s future, and confused where to register my daughter, I am afraid they would end up as tailors, mechanics or Sheikhs”, Samira, a mother of a student in Gaziantep explained to Eqtsad.
She added that her daughter is excellent in school and always has the full mark, she wish for her to study Pharmacology, however, the Sharea secondary school deprive her from this opportunity.
“how can that happen in a developed country like Turkey, issuing a decision and don’t have the united mechanism to implement it, do they want Syrians to leave Gaziantep?, because many of us would leave the city to other state to give our children to have their chance in studying what they want”, she wondered.
The Ministry of Education in the opposition Interim government tried to find a solution to the matter and met many officials of the Turkish Ministry of Education, but they were not able to find a certain and assuring decision for students’ families.
Yahya Abdullah, Director of the Ministry of Education office said: “we are in front of a real problem, my son is in grade-9 and I have not registered him in a school yet, as I want him to study in a school teaches the ordinary secondary curriculum”
He added that they would continue communicating with the Ministry of Education to find a solution to the matter, "I have contacted the Minster of Education inside Syria, Imad Baraq and explained to him the matter, he would attend Turkey to meet the Turkish officials in an attempt to find a solution protect the future of Syrian students".
States like Hatay, Osmaniye and Mersin are still allow Syrian students to study grade-9 in Arabic Language, and accepted registering Syrians in general secondary Schools with empowering them in Turkish Language in first term, while forcing the vocational and religious curriculum is restricted to Gaziantep.
Many Syrian families expressed their anger of forcing teaching in Turkish language on their children, they found it an attempt to alienate them from their mother tongue, even others went further and considered that an introduction to force Turkish nationality on Syrian refugees in the country.
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