Advocacy Note: Registration Barriers to School Enrollment [EN/TR] – Türkiye

Background

As of September 2023, Türkiye hosts over 1.3 million children under temporary and international protection, with over 1 million enrolled in education, leaving 300,000 out of school. The out-of-school children’s profile demonstrated notable variations by level and gender. The overall enrollment rate for children under temporary and international protection was 76.44% (48.86% for girls; 51.14% for boys). Notably, challenges remain with only 50.05 % of pre-primary age children and 48.57% upper secondary school aged children under temporary and international protection attended education. While Türkiye’s government and education sector organizations have made significant progress in reducing the number of out-of-school children since the Syria crisis began, various economic, cultural, social, and systemic factors still limit access to education for many children and their families.1

The February 2023 earthquakes affected 4 million children, damaging schools, and hindering attendance, especially for refugees. Decreasing accelerated learning opportunities in the form of non-formal education leading to formal education heightens the risk of dropouts. Sustained support from education sector member organizations, particularly for refugees and earthquake-affected populations, is vital for ensuring quality education. Ongoing efforts seek to enhance the reach and impact of education programmes by collaborating with non-3RP actors for improved coordination and outcomes.

Advocacy efforts for comprehensive policy reform are ongoing, specifically targeting the registration challenges encountered by Syrian refugees and other nationalities. While the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) has implemented inclusive and supportive policies, field-level obstacles may still persist.