Open Access

A study on disadvantaged immigrant students in terms of the education system and education policies: Turks in Germany

1 Ministry of National Education, Istanbul, Turkiye

Abstract

Turks were among the first migrant groups to relocate to Germany in 1961. This study is a research paper examining the educational challenges faced by Turks. The study aims to analyze Germany’s education system, its policies toward migrants, and the identification of educational challenges faced by Turkish migrants. Quantitative comparisons have been conducted, adopting a holistic approach to assess the educational challenges of Turks alongside other migrant groups. The research has found that Germany has not developed specific educational policies for migrants over an extended period. It has been determined that Turks are the most affected by this lack of policy. It has been found that 10.2% of students attending Hauptschule, a lower-tier academic and vocational preparatory school, are of Turkish origin. Only 1% of Turkish students attended Gymnasium, a school that provides pathways to higher education, in the 2002–2003 period; this proportion increased to only 4.4% by 2018. The study concludes that Germany’s education system has historically perceived migrant students primarily as auxiliary labor. Quantitative demographic data supporting these findings were obtained from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (DESTATIS). Statistics from EURYDICE, DESTATIS, and EUROSTAT were utilized to analyze educational attainment, school types, and vocational training. The data were presented in tables and graphs to derive certain conclusions. The study recommends that Turkish migrants in Germany should learn German in order to succeed academically. Turkish parents are advised to frequently visit schools, engage with their children, and maintain communication with educators guiding students toward higher education. Currently, apart from projects prioritizing German language education followed by vocational training, no comprehensive policies for migrants have been identified.

Keywords

How to Cite

Can, B. (2025). A study on disadvantaged immigrant students in terms of the education system and education policies: Turks in Germany . International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 16(60), 750–777. https://doi.org/10.70736/ijoess.1681

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