Refugee children who fled the civil war in Syria and settled in Turkiye’s Diyarbakır, continue their education in temporary school Bağlar, district of Diyarbakır. Students, looking to the future with hope despite the trauma caused by the war.

Describing the sorrows they have experienced in the fighting, children continue their education with the hope that the war will end one day.

Tuncay Yerlikaya, the Manager of Bağlar Temporary Education School, who is in charge of explaining the educational status of the students, stated that children are making an effort to stay alive under difficult conditions.

Stating that the students were educated in a beautiful and spacious environment, Yerlikaya said that children need extraordinary social activities more than their physical needs.

Emphasized the importance of authorities pays for the education of Syrian students, Yerlikaya said: “Our school has nearly 800 students. These students started studying at Bağcılar Imam Hatip Secondary School. We are trying to provide a wide range of education from kindergarten to high school 4th-grade students. This year, with the special efforts of the Directorate of National Education, we have also dealt with our service problem which has been a big problem in the past years. We have 45 Syrian teachers, 15 Turkish teachers, totally 60 teachers and 800 students in the Syrian school.”

“Really trauma of war leaves a lasting impression for a long time”

Stating that children still are under the effect of the trauma they have experienced, Yerlikaya continued: “It is hard for the little body of children who have experienced trauma and being a victim to get rid of something. We feel this as teachers in parents and students. Indeed trauma of war leaves a lasting impression for a long time. We are experiencing its disadvantages. The integration of children with school and integration of their parents with the neighborhood is really difficult. This also reflects on the education. I believe that the Syrians are a very powerful people with their children, their parents, and their teachers. I see an effort to stay alive in these difficult conditions and I really think they are strong in this.”

ILKHA