A Review of Multicultural Education in Northern Cyprus and Turkish Learning Levels of Students from Different Cultural Backgrounds

Abstract

The purpose of this research is -within the frame of opinions by form teachers working in primary schools in Northern Cyprus- reviewing problems faced by the students coming from different cultural backgrounds and reviewing proposals to solve such problems, in addition to considering Turkish grades on foreign students’ report cards to determine Turkish learning levels of them. This study was carried out using a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods as a base to understand the present situation. Within the scope of the purposeful sampling in the research, 40 classroom teachers from 5 primary schools from the Nicosia area were reached by using criterion sampling and maximum diversity techniques. A total of 120 foreign students were also reached. Open-ended questions were asked to teachers through semi-structured interview forms. The answers were interpreted by thematicizing. As a result of the study, problems faced by students from different cultures according to the opinions of teachers were grouped as; educational problems, communication problems, curriculum problems, problems related to family, and general problems. It is suggested to have special language programs for students from different cultural backgrounds.