From Conflict to Classroom: Refugee High School Students’ Motivations for Emigration to Türkiye
Keywords:
High school students, migration, migration theories, refugee, TürkiyeAbstract
This study explored the motivations of refugee high school students from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria for emigrating to Türkiye, with a particular focus on the city of Eskişehir. Unlike prior research that relies on adults’ perspectives, this study amplifies the voices of the refugee youth themselves. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data was collected from 278 students via comprehensive questionnaires, and qualitative insights were obtained from in-depth interviews with 27 participants. Results indicate that civil wars, political instability, and economic hardships were primary drivers of emigration. Participants identified Türkiye’s safety, cultural familiarity, educational opportunities, and health services as key pull factors. Decisions to settle in Eskişehir were often influenced by family choices and guidance from acquaintances, while established networks in their home countries facilitated chain migration. Qualitative interviews were used to elaborate and contextualize the primary drivers of emigration (e.g., war, safety) identified through the quantitative survey, providing a more nuanced understanding. It is the first to directly center refugee high school students’ voices in Türkiye. By centering student perspectives in a non-English-speaking context, it offers novel empirical insights with important implications for research, policy, and educational practice.
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