A Promising Opportunity for the Integration of Syrian Refugees in Turkey: New Targets in Accessing the Labor Market through Vocational Education and Training

Öz In recent years, the wars across the world have dramatically increased the demographic mobility among countries. Particularly, the Syrian civil war led to the displacement of millions of people within Syria and also caused the leave of Syrians from their country. The responsibilities of neighboring countries have increased considerably. Turkey, which has been implementing 'open-door diplomacy' since 2011, is the country hosting the highest number of refugees in the world as of 2021. This study evaluates Syrian refugees' access to vocational education and training (VET) in Turkey. In this context, the importance of policies to increase access to vocational training centers (VTCs), which have a major potential in facilitating their transition to the labor market and supporting their social integration, is highlighted. In addition, new steps taken by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) towards the integration of Syrian migrants are discussed.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Syrian refugees, vocational education and training, integration, labor market

PDF

___

Aerna, A. and Bonoli, G. (2021). Integration through Vocational Training. Promoting Refugees' Access to Apprenticeships in a Collective Skill Formation System. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, doi: 10.1080 / 13636820.2021.1894219.
Anadolu Agency (2021, 28 April). Syrian Refugees' Access to Vocational Training Centers for Social and Economic Integration Will Be Increased https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/egitim/suriyeli-siginmacilarin-social-and-economic-integration-to be increased / 2223180
Adalı, T. and Türkyılmaz, A. S. (2020). Demographic Data on Syrians in Turkey: What Do We Know?. International Migration, 58(3), 196-219.
Bircan, T. and Sunata, U. (2015). Educational Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. Migration Letters, 12(3), 226-237.
Canbal, M. S., Kerkez, B., Suna, H. E., Numanoğlu, K. V. and Özer, M. (2020). A New Step for Paradigm Change in Vocational and Technical Secondary Education: Updating Educational Programs. Journal of Education and Humanities: Theory and Practice, 11(21), 1-26.
Cantekin, D. (2019). Syrian refugees living on the edge: Policy and practice implications for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. International Migration, 57 (2), 200-220.
CEDEFOP (2019). Creating Lawful Opportunities for Adult Refugee Labor Market Mobility. Luxemburg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Chadderton, C. and Edmonds, C. (2015). Refugees and Access to Vocational Education and Training across Europe: A Case of Protection of White Privilege? Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 67(2), 136-152.
Del Carpio, X. V. and Wagner, M. (2015). The Impact of Syrian Refugees on the Turkish Labor Market. Policy Research Working Paper 7402, World Bank Group.
Dolapcioğlu, S. and Bolat, Y. (2019). The Education Issues of Syrian Students under Temporary Protection Status. Research in Education, doi: 10.1177 / 0034523719892019.
Emin, M. N. (2016). Education of Syrian Children in Turkey: Basic Education Policies. Ankara: SETA.
Emin, M. N. (2019). Education of Syrian Children in Turkey: Building the Future. Ankara: SETA.
Ereş, F. (2017). Problems of Immigrants who Attend Vocational Training Centers towards Vocational Courses. TÜBAV Science, 10(2), 93-101.
Hindy, L. (2018). Germany's Syrian Refugee Integration Experiment. The Century Foundation, 1919/2019.
Koehler, C. and Schneider, J. (2019). Young Refugees in Education: The Particular Challenges of School Systems in Europe. Comparative Migration Studies, 7, 28.
OECD (2017). Finding Their Way: Labor Market Integration of Refugees in Germany. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Özer, M. and Suna, H. E. (2019). Future of Vocational and Technical Education in Turkey: Solid Steps taken After Education Vision 2023. Journal of Education and Humanities, 10(20), 165–192.
Özer, M. and Suna, H. E. (2020). The Linkage between Vocational Education and Labor Market in Turkey: Employability and Skill Mismatch. Kastamonu Education Journal, 28(2), 558–569.
Özer, M., Gençoğlu, C. and Suna, H. E. (2020). Policies Implemented to Reduce Inequality in Education in Turkey. OMÜ Faculty of Education Journal, 39(2), 294-312.
Özer, M. (2020a). Vocational Education and Training as “A Friend in Need” during Coronavirus Pandemic in Turkey. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, 9(2), 1-7.
Özer, M. (2020b). The Contribution of the Strengthened Capacity of Vocational Education and Training System in Turkey to the Fight against Covid-19. Journal of Higher Education, 10(2), 134-140.
Özer, M. (2020c). Educational Policy Actions by the Ministry of National Education in the Times of COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey. Kastamonu Education Journal, 28(3), 1124-1129.
Özer, M. (2020d). Paradigm Change in Vocational Education in Turkey. Gazi University Journal of Gazi Education Faculty, 40(2), 357-384.
Özer, M. (2020e). Paradigm Change in Vocational Education: Turkey's Test with Vocational Education. Istanbul: Maltepe University Publications.
Özer, M. (2021a). New Steps taken to Strengthen Vocational Education in Turkey. International Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 9(16), 1-16.
Özer, M. (2021b). A New Step towards Narrowing the Achievement Gap in Turkey: “1,000 Schools in Vocational Education and Training” Project. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, 10(1), 97-108.
Sarmini, I., Topçu, E. and Scharbrodt, O. (2020). Integrating Syrian Refugee Children in Turkey: The Role of Turkish Language Skills (A Case Study in Gaziantep). International Journal of Educational Research Open, 1: 100007.
Siviş, S. (2020). Integrating Bottom-Up into Top-Down: The Role of Local Actors in Labor Market Integration of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. International Migration, doi: 10.1111/imig.12775.
Stoewe, K. (2018). Education Levels of Refugees: Training and Education in the Main Countries of Origin. IW-Report 37/2017. Germany: Köln.
Suna, H. E., Tanberkan, H., Eroğlu, E., Özer, M. and Gür, B. S. (2020). Horizontal Skills Mismatch in Vocational Education in Turkey: The Reasons for out-of-field Employment. İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi, 40(2), 931-955.
Şimşek, D. (2019). Transnational Activities of Syrian Refugees in Turkey: Hindering or Supporting Integration. International Migration, 57(2), 268-282.
Tanrıkulu, F. (2020). Comparing of Migrants’ Education Policies of Turkey and Germany. International Conference on Social Science Research ICONSR 2020, 31-40.
Taştan, C. and Çelik, Z. (2017). Türkiye'de Suriyeli Çocukların Eğitimi: Güçlükler ve Öneriler. Ankara: Eğitim-Bir-Sen Stratejik Araştırmalar Merkezi.
Tüzün, I. (2017). Türkiye'de Mülteci Çocukların Eğitim Hakkını ve Karşılıklı Uyumu Destekleyen Yaklaşımlar: Politikalar ve Uygulamalar. European Liberal Forum.
Unutulmaz, K. O. (2017). Integration of Syrians: Politics of Integration in Turkey in the Face of Closing Window of Opportunity, In: D. Eroğlu-Utku, K. O. Unutulmaz and I. Sirkeci (Eds.), Turkey's Syrians: Today and Tomorrow. Transnational Press London, London.
Unutulmaz, K. O. (2019). Turkey's Education Policies towards Syrian Refugees: A Macro-Level Analysis. International Migration, 57(2), 235-252.
UNHR (2017). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2017. UNHR, Geneva.