Embracing the Future: Strategies to improve achievements in multicultural society

This seminar is organised by the London Centre for Social Studies (LCSS). It was the eleventh of the LCSS 2004/2005 Embracing the Future seminar series.

An experienced educator Daniels and Thinkler has proposed that the main problem to be unsuccessful for Turkish students at school was the parents’ early holiday plans not considering the school calender. This attendence problem presents us the Turkish parents’ attitudes towards education and affects directly achievement of the student.

It was highlighted that every generation of Turkish community has different attitudes towards education. The first generation was working long hours to make money, the second generation was in between working and studying, and this generation exhibit a negligent attitude towards education. It was underlined at this stage we should recover the idea that every community has a different genetic code that affects learning.

Another important point mentioned at the seminar is that English curriculum should be revised and some changes should be done considering minorities. Here it comes the importance of the teachers of different cultures. Turkish minorities should be encouraged to take more active role in education.