Understanding state-civil society relations in education provision for non-camp Syrian children in Turkey

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Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Sosyoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2016

Öğrenci: ASLIHAN TEZEL

Danışman: MUSTAFA ŞEN

Özet:

In the shadow of the Syrian conflict generating millions of displaced people, education provision for Syrian children has become a challenge for Turkey as the leading refugee hosting country. While great number of children who do not speak the national language is putting a strain on the limited capacity of state institutions, civil society organizations are trying to bridge the education gap for non-camp Syrian children. Given Turkey’s political interests and the evolving migration management context, this dissertation puts the decentralization of responsibilities for non-camp Syrian children under scrutiny and tries to fathom the social and political dynamics at play affecting the status quo in national education during the refugee crisis through a document analysis and interviews conducted with state and civil society representatives. While the regulations related to the education of non-camp Syrian children are addressed, governance strategies regarding response to the crisis in education sector is revealed with a special focus on state-civil society relations in education. Highlighting the paradoxical consequences of the refugee crisis on the national education system in Turkey, this dissertation critically evaluates education policies for Syrian children and the sociopolitical implications of these policies on the Turkish state. Accordingly, education dimension of the refugee crisis in Turkey is unpacked with a focus on capacities, motivations and approaches of state and civil society organisations in education. The strategies for and challenges in education provision for refugees is displayed in conjunction with national education priorities with an institutionalist point of view.