Turkish students' perceptions of citizenship duties and rights: An evaluation of citizenship education in Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to make a comparative analysis of the Turkish students' perceptions of their duties and rights regarding citizenship and human rights. For that reason, 120 students, randomly selected from the eighth class (aged 13–14) of four primary schools in Malatya, a city in eastern Turkey, were given the 'Perceived Citizenship Rights and Duties Scale' developed by the researchers. As a result, it was found that students have perceptions about citizenship duties and rights favourably high, while they prioritize the former. Moreover, perceived citizenship rights scores of girls and students at a central school were found to be significantly higher. No significant difference was observed in terms of the father's educational background and following the news in media. The mother's educational background was found as a significant variable in terms of citizenship rights and duties. Academic achievement in the citizenship and human rights lesson was also found as a significant variable in terms of perception of citizenship rights.