Education and Integration in Countries with Syrian Children: Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Germany and Turkey


Abstract views: 0 / PDF downloads: 0

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2123

Keywords:

Integration, Migration, refugee education, syrian student, inclusion , Syrian refugees

Abstract

Today, the number of people fleeing conflicts, wars, human rights violations and difficult living conditions in their countries and seeking refuge in other countries is rapidly increasing all over the world. We witness the migration movements of people fleeing from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and Eritrea and pursuing their right to live elsewhere. This necessitates the countries hosting refugees to adopt an integration approach towards the refugee population. This research aims to describe integration in refugee education, the inclusive education approach and the education policies and practices of the countries that host the highest number of refugees after the Syrian migration. Research data were collected through document analysis, one of the qualitative research techniques, and analyzed with descriptive analysis method. It is clear from the findings of the research that in countries where Syrians are concentrated, a truly holistic approach model is not applied in the education of refugee children and therefore presents serious problems in refugee education. As a result of the research, it is proposed to carry out studies that will describe the problems experienced in refugee education, solution proposals and educational practices of host states.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Mehmet Fansa, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University

Dr. Mehmet Fansa (Corresponding Author) works as assistant professor at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Education. His research interests include; immigration, primary school education, teaching Turkish to foreigners.  The corresponding author has also served as an education coordinator for Syrian children's access to education. The author's doctoral study is on "The Life of Syrian Asylum Seekers Children in the Temporary Shelter The Center in Turkey: An Ethnographic On the Study of Elementary Education".

Mehmet Sayıcı

Dr. Mehmet Sayıcı had his PhD degree on social justice leadership of school principals in the field of educational administration at Gaziantep University. He works as a teacher at a state school in Türkiye. His primary research areas are comparative education, social justice leadership in education and refugee education.

References

Abu-Amsha, O., & Armstrong J., (2018). Pathways to resilience in risk-laden environments: A case study of Syrian refugee education in Lebanon. Journal on Education in Emergencies. 4 (1), 45-73.

ACW. (2022). The Syrian refugee population around the globe. Arab Center Washington DC Research and Analysis Team. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/syrian-refugee-population-around-the-globe/

Ahmadzadeh, H., Çorabatır, M., Husseini, J. A., Hashem, L., & Wahby, S. (2014). Ensuring quality education for young refugees from Syria. Refugee Studies Centre. University of Oxford. https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/files/files-1/rr-syria-youth-education-2014.pdf

Ahrenholz, B., Fuchs, I & Birnbaum,T. (2016). Evaluation: Modelle der Beschulung von Seiteneinsteigerinnen und Seiteneinsteigern in der Praxis, BISS-Journal, 5(11), 14-16

Ainscow, M. (2005). Developing inclusive education systems: What are the levers for change? Journal of Educational Change, 6(2), 109-124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-005-1298-4

Arar, K. H. (2021). Research on refugees’ pathways to higher education since 2010: A systematic review. Review of Education, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3303

Arnot, M., & Pinson, H. (2005). The education of asylum seeker and refugee children: A study of LEA and school values, policies and practices. The University of Cambridge.

Aykırı, K. (2017). Sınıf öğretmenlerinin sınıflarındaki Suriyeli öğrencilerin eğitim durumlarına ilişkin görüşleri. Turkish Journal of Primary Education, 2(1), 44-56.

Bank, R. (2000). Reception conditions for asylum-seekers in Europe: an analysis of provisions in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Nordic Journal of International Law, 69(3), 257-288. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718100020296297

Bellino, M. J., & Dryden-Peterson, S. (2019). Inclusion and exclusion within a policy of national integration: Refugee education in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 40(2), 222–238. https:// doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2018.1523707

BBC. (2019). Komşu ülkelerdeki 6 milyona yakın Suriyeli mülteci ülkesine döner mi? BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-dunya-50502393

Beehler, S., Birman, D., & Campbell, R. (2012). The effectiveness of cultural adjustment and trauma services (CATS): Generating practice-based evidence on a comprehensive, school-based mental health intervention for immigrant youth. American Journal of Community Psychology, 50, 155-168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-011-9486-2

Bhavnagri, N. P. (2001). The global village: Migration and education. Childhood Education, 77(5), 256-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2001.10521647

Bland, D. (2012). Imagination for reengagement from the margins of education. Australian Educational Researcher, 39(1), 75-89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-012-0050-3

Bloch, A., Chimienti, M., Counilh, A. L., Hirsch, S., Tattolo, G., Ossipow, L., & de Wenden, C. W. (2015). The children of refugees in Europe: aspirations, social and economic lives, identity and transnational linkages. Geneva: Centre de recherches sociales (CERES).

Block, K., Cross, S., Riggs, E., & Gibbs, L. (2014). Supporting schools to create an inclusive environment for refugee students. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 18 (12), 1337–1355. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2014.899636

Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. (2015). Migration report. General conclusions. Nuremberg: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

Carlier, W. (2018). The widening education gap for Syrian refugee children. Kidsright Report. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Cerna, L. (2019). Refugee education: Integration models and practices in OECD Countries; OECD Education Working Paper No. 203, OECD: Paris, France.

Crul, M., Lelie, F., Biner, Ö., Bunar, N., Keskiner, E., Kokkali, I., Schneider, J. & Shuayb, M. (2019). How the different policies and school systems affect the inclusion of Syrian refugee children in Sweden, Germany, Greece, Lebanon and Turkey. Comparative Migration Studies, 7(1), 1-20.

Culbertson, S., & Constant, L. (2015). Education of Syrian refugee children: Managing the crisis in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

Deane, S. (2016). Syria’s Lost Generation: Refugee Education Provision and Societal Security in an Ongoing Conflict Emergency, in M. Tadros & J. Selby (eds.), Ruptures and Ripple Effects in the Middle East and Beyond, IDS Bulletin, 47(3).

Deutsche Welle. (2020). Almanya mülteci sınavını başardı mı? DW News. www.dw.com/tr/almanya-mülteci-sınavını-başardı-mı/a-54723405

Dhingra, R. (2016). Losing Syria’s youngest generation: The education crisis facing Syrian refugees in Jordan. Middle East Report Online. https://merip. org/2016/03/losing-syrias-youngest-generation/.

DRC. (2000). Legal and social conditions for asylum-seekers and refugees in Western European countries. Copenhagen.

Dryden-Peterson, S. (2015). The educational experiences of refugee children in countries of first asylum. Migration Policy Institute.

Education Sector Working Group Jordan (ESWGJ). (2015). Joint education needs Assessment report:Access to education for Syrian refugee. UNHCR. https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/45843

El-Ghali, H., Ghalayini, N., & İsmail, G. (2016). Responding to crisis: Syrian refugee education in Lebanon, Beirut: AUB Policy Institute. American University of Beirut. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304119961_Responding_to_Crisis_Syrian_Refugee_Education_in_Lebanon

El-Ghali, H. A., Ali, A., & Ghalayini, N. (2017). Higher education and Syrian refugee students: The case of Iraq. UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318471269_Higher_education_and_Syrian_refugee_students_the_case_of_Iraq

Eurydice. (2009). Integrating immigrant children into schools in Europe-measures to foster communications with immigrant families and heritage language teaching for immigrant children. Brussels, Belgium. https://www.parentsparticipation.eu/sites/default/files/pagina/4._eurydice_2009_1.pdf

Flüchtlingsrat Baden-Wüttenberg. (2014). Fluechtlingsrat BW. http://fluechtlingsrat-bw.de/files/Dateien/Dokumente

Forbes, S. H. & Martin, R. A. (2004). What holistic education claims about itself: An analysis of holistic schools’ literature. American Education Research Association Annual Conference San Diego, California. https://www.holistic-education.net/articles/research04.pdf

Geneva Convention. (1951). Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. United Nations, https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1954/04/19540422%2000-23%20AM/Ch_V_2p.pdf

Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü. (2024, November 17). Geçici koruma, istatistikler. https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638

Grisgraber, D. (2012). Syrian refugees: Reliance on camps creates few good options. Refugees International: Field Report, 5. https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syrian-refugees-reliance-camps-creates-few-good-options

Gurer, C. (2019). Refugee Perspectives on Integration in Germany. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 3(2), 52-70. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/6433

Heisbourg, F. (2017). The strategic implications of the Syrian refugee crisis. Survival, 57(6),7-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396338.2015.1116144

Hek, R. (2005). The Experiences and needs of refugee and asylum-seeking children in the UK: A literature review. National Evaluation of the Children’s Fund: University of Birmingham. https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/5398/1/RR635.pdf

HIWG. (1994). Survey on the implementation of temporary protection. Geneva.

Jourová, V., & Avramopoulos, D. (2017). Göç halindeki çocukların korunmasına yönelik faaliyetler. European Commission.

Karasar, N. (2007). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Nobel Yayınları.

Kelly, E. (1994). Racism and sexism in the playground. In P. Blatchford & S. Sharp (Ed.), Breaktime and the school: Understanding and changing playground behaviour (pp. 63-76). Routledge.

Kılıç, V. A., & Gokçe Toker, A. (2018). The problems of Syrian students in the basic education in Turkey. European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research, 12(1), 215-227. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejser.v12i1.p215-227

Kubilay, S. (2020). Suriyeli çocukların eğitime erişimlerine karşılaştırmalı bir bakış: Ürdün, Lübnan, Türkiye Örnekleri. EYFOR X. Antalya. August 25, 2020. https://www.eyuder.org/documents/38/EYFOR_X_Tam_metin_kitab%C4%B1.pdf

Lambrechts, A. A. (2020). The super-disadvantaged in higher education: Barriers to access for refugee background students in England. Higher Education, 80(5), 803-822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00515-4

Magos, K., & Margaroni, M. (2018). The importance of educating refugees. Global education review, 5(4), 1-6.

Majthoub, O. (2021). Education provision for Syrian refugee children in Jordan. Kosice Security Revue, 11(1), 53-69.

Masia-Warner, C., Nangle, D. W., & Hansen, D. J. (2006). Bringing evidence-based child mental health services to the schools: General issues and specific populations. Education and Treatment of Children, 29(2), 165-172.

Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı (MoNE). (2014). Yabancılara Yönelik Eğitim-Öğretim Hizmetleri. https://mevzuat.meb.gov.tr/dosyalar/1715.pdf

MEB Hayat Boyu Öğrenme Genel Müdürlüğü. (2024). Göç ve Acil Durum Eğitim Daire Başkanlığı,Ankara.https://hbogm.meb.gov.tr/meb_iys_dosyalar/2024_05/14104707_izlemevedegerlendirmeraporu2023.pdf

Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). (2014). Reaching all children with education [RACE] in Lebanon. Ministry of Education and Higher Education. https://www.mehe.gov.lb/ar/Projects/RACEfinalEnglish2.pdf

Nakeyar, C., Esses, V., & G. Reid (2017). The psychosocial needs of refugee children and youth and best practices for filling these needs: A systematic review. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(2), 186-208. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517742188

Naylor, R., Terry, L., Rizzo, A., Nguyen, N., & Mifsud, N. (2019). Structural inequality in refugee participation in higher education. Journal of Refugee Studies, 34(2), 2142-2158. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fez077

OECD. (2023). Education and Migration: Policies and Practices. https://doi.org/10.1787/b0f40584-en

Pastoor, L. (2016). Rethinking refugee education: principles, policies and practice from a European perspective, Annual Review of Comparative and International Education, 30, 107-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-367920160000030009

Pigozzi, M. J. (1999). Education in emergencies and reconstruction: A developmental approach. UNICEF. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000147092

Pirinççi, F. (2018). Syrian crisis and Iraq: an analysis on the effects on migration and radicalization. Yönetim ve Ekonomi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 16(2), 218-235. http://dx.doi.org/10.11611/yead.359930

Pinson, H., & Arnot, M. (2010). Local conceptualisations of the education of asylum seeking and refugee students: From hostile to holistic models. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 14(3), 247-267. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110802504523

Radhouane, M. (2023). Pedagogical challenges in integrating refugee students in the Global North: A literature review. Prospects, 53(1), 151-168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-022-09632-7

Ratini, T. (2019). Refugee. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 3(2), 97-99. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/6432

Rutter, J. (2006). Refugee children in the UK: Education in an urbanised society. Berkshire England: Open University Press.

Shuayb, M., Al Maghlouth, N., Held, K., Ahmad, N, Badran, T., & Al Qantar, S. (2016). An education for the future: The schooling experience of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and Germany. The Education Commission. https://www. lebanesestudies.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/An-Education-for-the-Future.pdf

Sidhu, R., & Taylor, S. (2009). The trials and tribulations of partnerships in refugee settlement services in Australia, Journal of Education Policy, 24(6), 655-672. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680930802669326

Small, B. (2020). I want to continue to study’: Barriers to secondary education for Syrian refugee children in Jordan. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2020/ 06/jordan0620_web.pdf.

Statista (2024). Number of asylum applicants in Germany in 2024, by country origin. https://www.statista.com/statistics/911586/country-origin-asylum-applicants-germany/

Szabo, S., & Anderson, G. (2009). Helping teacher candidates examine their multicultural attitudes. Educational Horizons, 87(3), 190-197.

Szente, J., & Hoot, J. L. (2007). Exploring the needs of refugee children in our schools. In L. Adams and A. Kirova (Eds.), Global migration and education: Schools, children and families (pp. 219-235). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Şahan, G. (2018). Göçmen çocukların eğitimi. Anı Yayıncılık

Şahin, H., & Kaya, M. (2021). Harran Üniversitesi’ndeki Suriyeli öğrencilerin akademik entegrasyon süreçlerinin analizi. İnsan ve Toplum, 11(3), 39-84.

Şirin, S. R., & Rogers-Şirin, L. (2015). The educational and mental health needs of syrian refugee children: Young children in refugee families. Migration Policy Institute.

Taştan, C., & Çelik, Z. (2017). Türkiye’de Suriyeli çocukların eğitimi güçlükler ve öneriler. Eğitim-Bir-Sen Stratejik Araştırmalar Merkezi.

Taylor, S. C. (2008). Schooling and the settlement of refugee young people in Queensland:the challenges are massive. Social Alternatives, 27(3), 58-65.

Taylor, S., & Sidhu, R. K. (2012). Supporting refugee students in schools: What constitutes inclusive education?. International journal of inclusive education, 16(1), 39-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110903560085

TBMM İnsan Haklarını İnceleme Komisyonu. (2018). Göç ve Uyum Raporu. Ankara. https://asylumineurope.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/04/resources_goc_ve_uyum_raporu.pdf

T.C. Resmi Gazete. (1949 May 27). Birleşmiş Milletler İnsan Hakları Evrensel Bildirgesi. Başbakanlık Basımevi. Ankara. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/arsiv/7217.pdf

T.C. Resmi Gazete. (2013). Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu (Law on Foreigners and International Protection). https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=6458&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5

Tösten, R., Toprak, M., & Kayan, M. S. (2017). An investigation of forcibly migrated Syrian refugee students at Turkish public schools. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 5 (7), 1149-1160.

Tudjman, T., Heerik, A., Le Pichon, E. & Baauw, S. (2016). Multi-country partnership to enhance the education of refugee and asylum-seeking youth in europe-refugee education in the Netherlands. Risbo-Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Turan, M., & Fansa, M. (2021). Göçmen çocukların Türkçe öğreniminde yaşadıkları problemler. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 50(1), 11-26.

UNDP & UNHCR. (2018). 3RP Regional refugee response plan. 2018-2019 on Iraq: in response to the Syria crisis. Geneva: UNDP and UNHCR. www.unhcr.org/partners/donors/5a54c1957/2018-2019-regional-refugee-resilience-plan-response-syria-crisis.html

UNESCO. (2013). Syria refugees education country profile, Draft 2, 5/12/13, Iraq

UNESCO. (2018). Global education monitoring report 2019: Migration, Displacement and Education – Building Bridges, not Walls. UNESCO. https://www.right-to-education.org/resource/global-education-monitoring-report-2019-migration-displacement-and-education-building

UNHCR. (2017). Progress Report. Regional refugee and resilience plan 2017-2018. Egypt. https://www.unhcr.org/eg/wpcontent/uploads/sites/36/2019/05/3RP_2017_2018_EN.pdf

UNHCR. (2020). Syria regional refugee response. UNHCR. https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria

UNHCR. (2022). Syria regional refugee response: Total Persons of Concern. https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria/location/5

UNHCR. (2023). Unlocking the potential: The right to education and opportunity. https://www.unhcr.org/unlocking-potential-right-education-and-opportunity

UNHCR. (2024). Syria regional refugee response. https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria

UNICEF. (2012). The right of children with disabilities to education: A rights-based approach to inclusive education position paper. UNICEF, Education Section.

UNICEF. (2017). Syria Crisis: 2017 Humanitarian results. https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/unicef-syria-crisis-situation-report-2017-humanitarian-results#:~:text=In%202017%2C%20the%20United%20Nations,350%2B%20cases%20verified%20for%20each.

UNICEF. (2019). Syria humanitarian situation report. https://www.unicef.org/iraq/reports/syria-humanitarian-situation-report-3

UNICEF. (2020). Jordan: Country report on out-of-school children. https://www.unicef.org/jordan/media/5501/file/OSC-Report-EN.pdf

Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948). United Nations General Assembly Resolution 217 A. https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/2021/03/udhr.pdf

Vardarlı, B., Khatib, A., Uygur, S., & Gönültaş, M. (2019). Türkiye ve Almanya’daki Suriyeli sığınmacılara sunulan haklar ve yaşanan sorunlar. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 18 (70), 654-673. https://doi.org/10.17755/esosder.431273

Von Aspern, E. (2009). Telling it like it is: Children’s perceptions on cultural belonging. TESOL in Context Pedagogies of Connection, Special Edition, 2, 1-17.

Watkins, K. & Zyck, S. A. (2014). Living on hope, hoping for education: The failed response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Overseas Development Institute.

Williams, F. C. & Butler, S. K. (2003). Concerns of newly arrived immigrant students: Implications for school counselors. ASCA: Professional School Counseling, 9-14.

Winzer, M., & Mazurek, K. (2011). Canadian teachers associations and the inclusive movement for students with special needs. Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, 116, 1-24.

Yassen, A. (2019). Durable solutions for Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. MERI Policy Report. Middle East Research Institute (MERI). https://www.meri-k.org/publication/durable-solutions-for-syrian-refugees-in-the-kurdistan-region-of-iraq/

Yassin, N., Osseiran, T., Rassi, R., & Boustani, M. (2015). No place to stay? Reflections No place to stay? Reflections on the Syrian refugee shelter policy in Lebanon. AUB’s Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, UN-Habitat. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/112451/

Yigit, I. H., & Tatch, A. (2017). Syrian Refugees and Americans: Perceptions, Attitudes and Insights. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 1(1), 13-31. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/5789

Yildirim, A., & Şimşek, H. (2006). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-29

How to Cite

Fansa, M., & Sayıcı, M. . (2025). Education and Integration in Countries with Syrian Children: Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Germany and Turkey. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 12(2), 72–91. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2123
Received 2024-05-11
Accepted 2025-03-09
Published 2025-03-29