In a groundbreaking initiative, the Near East University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Turkish Language Teaching has successfully transformed a literacy course for mothers into a scientific publication. Launched in November 2022 for mothers of children in the Cyprus Turkish Child Protection Institution, the course aimed to enhance communication and social bonds within families. The study, presented at the International Cyprus Education and Social Sciences Symposium by faculty members and students, revealed that mothers who participated in the course experienced strengthened bonds with their children. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır emphasized the positive impact on daily lives, highlighting increased communication and active involvement in their children's education.

In addition to this literacy initiative, another study presented at the symposium shed light on the experiences of pre-service teachers who lived through an earthquake. The study, which included insights from students who had undergone teacher training and experienced the recent earthquake in Turkey, exposed a notable shift in their perspectives on disaster education. The findings indicated a strong desire among pre-service teachers to see increased emphasis on disaster education in the curriculum. Ece Naz Sevim, a student of the Near East University Turkish Language Teaching Department, stressed the importance of raising awareness and implementing comprehensive disaster management programs in educational institutions.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut underlined the necessity of incorporating disaster education into curricula at all levels in Turkey and Northern Cyprus. The results of the study reflected unanimous support among teacher candidates for the integration of disaster education, emphasizing its vital role in fostering social awareness. The Near East University's dual focus on literacy empowerment and disaster education underscores its commitment to addressing critical social issues and promoting holistic education for a resilient future.

For more information:

https://neu.edu.tr/near-east-university-lecturers-and-students-taught-the-mothers-of-children-at-the-child-protection-institution-to-read-and-write-the-communication-of-mothers-who-learned-to-read-and-write-with-their/?lang=en