Syrian children born in Türkiye don't face integration problems, says expert

ISTANBUL

Syrian children born in Türkiye do not face any problems in social integration, according to an education and career support specialist.

Hene Ibo Numan, an expert at the International Migration and Refugee Association (IMRA), told Anadolu that Syrian children born in Türkiye do not have adaptation problems compared to children who came to the country after fleeing the war.

“Syrian children born in Türkiye do not have problems like the children who came to Türkiye while receiving education in Syria because they go to kindergarten and primary school here.

"These children know the Turkish society in terms of both mentality, education, and language and do not experience adaptation problems,” Numan said.

Children who were born in Syria and came to Türkiye need more support, he added.

“My 19-year-old daughter started her education in Syria and continued in Türkiye. Children at this age had problems with language when they entered Turkish schools,” he said.

Underlining the importance of starting integration studies at a young age, he said some Turkish university students spend time with immigrant students to help them.

Regarding the unaccompanied children in Türkiye, he said these children “do not live a normal life.”

“All of them have traumas. Some still have nightmares. Some cannot access education opportunities. It means an unstable child,” he added.

Syria has been embroiled in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar​​​​​​​