Page 73 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

In order to increase the schooling rates of Syrian children under temporary protection
during the 2016-2017 academic year and facilitate their transition to public schools,
it has been decided that Syrian families should be directed to İmam Hatip (religious)
secondary schools, vocational schools, or apprenticeship schools, taking into account
their preferences. It was also decided that TTCs would be closed within 3 years and
it would be mandatory for pre-school, 1st, 5th, and 9th grade students to be enrolled
in public schools in order to ensure inclusion of students under temporary protection
in the Turkish education system and acceleration integration. However, although
Syrian students are now subject to the Turkish education system and curriculum, the
Ministry of National Education’s approach includes additional courses on the Arabic
language and culture to prevent them forgetting their own language and culture. Syrian
and Turkish teachers are volunteering in TTCs. At the beginning of the 2016-2017
academic year, 20,000 Syrian teacher candidates were selected and trained.

Foreigners who volunteer to work are assessed by the assigned training coordinator
(staff assigned to the TTCs to coordinate educational activities) as well as by provincial

SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT 73