VALUE OF PATRIOTISM IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF AFGHAN STUDENTS ATTENDING TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

There is a compelling and internal relationship between patriotism and the state organism and its political body, as a feeling that manifests itself in all areas and periods of life. The purpose of this research is to determine the understanding of patriotism of Afghan refugee students in secondary schools in Erzincan and their national feelings and awareness of national consciousness for Turkey they live in. Qualitative research method and case study pattern were used in the study. The universe of the research was made up of Afghan students at Imam Hatip High School and Fatih Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the province of Erzincan in the 2016-2017 academic year. The study group consisted of a total of twelve students who were chosen by the maximum diversity sampling among these students. Focus group interview was used as data collection technique and semi-structured interview form as data collection tool. Students' drawings and descriptions are grouped into three sub-themes such as Beautiful Turkey, Helpful Turkey and Muslim Turkey. The definition of patriotism is gathered in four subthemes such as fighting/dying, serving/beautifying, protecting citizens and training. According to the results of the survey, Afghan students keep on their love for their homeland, they are forced to migrate to Turkey, they are happy with the help and behaviour of Turkish people against them. They maintain that they have positive feelings against Turkey and the Turkish people.