Page 155 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

Being raised an uneducated generation would undoubtedly lead to increased crime rates
in the long-term. In addition, education is a very important part of social integration.
Therefore, the measures to be taken should be such as to facilitate Syrian children’s
access to education and to increase the enrollment rate. Some actions are important for
this purpose, such raising the awareness of Syrian families and efforts to relieve possible
worries. These efforts should include household visits, continued aid programs that
provide economic support to Syrian families who send their children to school, and the
appointment of guidance counselors who speak Arabic, with priority given to schools
in the regions where most Syrians live. In addition, it is important to implement a
standard process across provinces to enroll Syrian children to ensure that those without
a temporary protection ID card are admitted to schools so that they are not deprived
of an education.

Because the teaching of Turkish as a second language is a special area of expertise, it is
necessary for teachers to be trained in this area. With this objective, the “Turkish for
Children” language teaching curriculum is being prepared by the Yunus Emre Institute
in accordance with the qualifications of the pre-school and elementary school target
groups; it aims to teach the Turkish language through games, activities, and songs to
age groups and is a good example. It would be beneficial to ensure that these and similar
applications are distributed and standardized throughout the country, and the support
and cooperation of non-governmental organizations are necessary when these activities
are carried out.

However, it is also important to ensure that the quality of education is not reduced
with the increasing number of students due to the registration of Syrian students in
public schools; for this reason, it is necessary to provide the requisite number of physical
facilities and teacher capacities, as well as teachers and staff for the schools who are
specially trained in Syrian children’s culture, as well as the effects of war- and migration-
related trauma. Parents and Turkish students should also participate in informative
activities that raise awareness to prevent possible negative reactions and overcome
possible worries about Turkish education standards falling due to the presence of Syrian
children in the schools.
X. Right to Work and Employment

The “Regulation on Work Permits for Temporary Protection for Foreigners,” which
allows Syrians under temporary protection in Türkiye to work and which entered into
force on January 15, 2016, has a very strategic precaution and is a complete revolution
in terms of legislation on foreigners. It also ensures the Syrian refugees can earn their

SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT 155