"Higher quality in education with family support"

1. "Higher quality in education with family support" A School Partnership Project financed by the European Commission. (Partner schools from Estonia, Romania, Turkey) - 2007 – 2009 Synthesis

2. A better insertion on the European labour market is one of the aims of education today. • Starting from the present situation in schools we have noticed that the drop-outs and the low results at graduating, and thus a low rate of social inclusion, are most of the time   due to the lack of family involvement in children’s personal and professional development.

3. This situation is increasing dramatically today mainly in the less developed countries of Europe where the rate of migration of the labour force is increasing, children remaining at home in the care of their grandparents and  relatives.

4. Through this European partnership we will try to find out the position of all parts involved regarding this issue, the causes which keep parents / relatives away from school and the modalities to make them get involved in the  school activities directly and continuously.

5. Parents and relatives should understand that their presence in school is beneficial for their children. • Teachers and students have to become aware of the necessity of this cooperation for the common benefit, and thus,  for raising the quality in education

6. For the above mentioned reasons the partners elaborated together a set of questionnaires which were given to students, parents and teachers from the three schools involved: •   1. Colegiul National Mihai Eminescu, Baia Mare, Romania, coordinating institution (http://cneminescu.licee.edu.ro ) •   2.  Kaiu Põhikool, Rapla County, Estonia (http://www.kaiu.edu.ee/) • 3. ÖZEL ÜFTADE LİSESİ, Uşak, Turkey  (http://uftadelisesi.k12.tr/)

7. The questionnaires aimed at finding out the position of the three parties, related to the cooperation between school and family. • Number of people who answered the questionnaires: • Students: Estonia: 96 Romania: 480 Turkey:??? • Parents: Estonia: 73 Romania: 320 Turkey: ??? • Teachers: Estonia: 14 Romania: 41 Turkey: 29

8. Results –Students I. General information about the target group 1. Age: Estonia: 8-16 Romania: 15-19 Turkey: 14-19 2. School Type Estonia: Public Romania: Public Turkey: Private

9. 3. Place of residence Estonia: rural 100% Romania: rural 37% urban 63% Turkey: rural 14, 26% urban 83.74%

10. 4. Who do students live with during the school year? Estonia: with parents: 98%; with other relatives: 2% Romania: with parents: 60%; with other relatives: 26%; in a dormitory: 12%; by themselves: 2% Turkey: with parents: 54.68%; with other relatives: 5.42%; in a dormitory: 39.90%

11. 5. Parents’ marital status Estonia: married 44%; divorced 12%; deceased: 6%; not married: 29%; foster parents: 1% Romania: married 77%; divorced 8%; deceased: 12%; not married: 3% Turkey: married 93%; divorced 3.55%; deceased: 3.45%

12. 6. Brothers and/or sisters Estonia: yes: 97%; no 3% Romania: yes: 58%; no 42% Turkey: yes: 90.64%; no 9.36%

13. 7. How often do they meet their parents? Mothers Estonia: daily: 95.7%; only in weekends: 2.3%; once a month: 1%; others: 1% Romania: daily: 62%; only in weekends: 16%; once a month: 6%; only in holidays 10%; others (mother deceased or abroad) 6% Turkey: daily: daily: 51.23%; only in weekends: 18.23%; once a month: 10.84%; only in holidays 8.37%; others 11.33%

14. Fathers Estonia: daily: 9.6%; only in weekends: 5.6%; once a month: 11.3%; only in holidays 1.1%; others: 12.4% (???) Romania: daily: 59%; only in weekends: 23%; once a month: 4%; only in holidays:9%; others (father deceased , abroad or no father) 5% Turkey: daily: 51.23%; only in weekends: 18.23%; once a month: 10.84%; only in holidays 8.37%; others 11.33% (???)

15. 8. Time spent with parents Estonia: Less than an hour: 6.3%; more than an hour: 87.4%; not at all: 6.3% Romania: Less than an hour: 18%; more than an hour: 77%; not at all: 5% Turkey: Less than an hour: 10.84%; more than an hour: 53.20%; not at all: 35.96%

16. 9. Degree of satisfaction related to the parents-children relationship Estonia: always: 67%; sometimes: 30%; never: 3% Romania: always: 62%; sometimes: 32%; never: 6% Turkey: always: 69.98%; sometimes: 28.54%; never: 1.48%

17. 10. Sharing school matters with the parents: Estonia: often: 40%; sometimes: 53.8%; never 6.2% Romania: often: 58%; sometimes: 40%; never 2% Turkey: often: 34.98%; sometimes: 57.14%; never 7.88%

18. 11. Which member of the family is more interested in the child’s school activity? Estonia: mothers: 27.9%; fathers: 4.1%; both 64%; none:2%; other members: 2% Romania: mothers: 37%; fathers: 8%; both 45%; none:2%; other members: 8% Turkey: mothers: 29.06%; fathers: 21.18%; both 39.92%; none:5%; other members: 3.93%

19. II. Parents’ cooperation with school 12. How often do parents come to school? Estonia: weekly: 2%; monthly 4.1%; once a semester: 33%; once a year: 49.5%; never: 11.4% Romania: weekly: 1%; monthly 37%; once a semester: 52%; once a year: 8%; never: 2% Turkey: weekly: 11.33%; monthly 41.87%; once a semester: 39.41%; once a year: 6.90%; never: 0.49%

20. 13. Reasons for coming to school Estonia: to attend the parental meetings: 43.4%; to solve a problem: 9.4%; for celebrations: 30.2%; to get informed about their child: 6.9%; when they are called by teachers/form teachers/ headmasters: 8.8%; to pay school taxes: 1.3% Romania: to attend the parental meetings: 92%; to solve a problem: 73%; for celebrations: 4%; to get informed about their child: 48%; when they are called by teachers/form teachers/ headmasters: 95%; to pay school taxes: not the case Turkey: to attend the parental meetings: 79.80%; to solve a problem: 38.42%; for celebrations: 15.76%; to get informed about their child: 73.89%; when they are called by teachers/form teachers/ headmasters: 49.75%; to pay school taxes: 15.27%

21. 14. Reasons for not coming to school Estonia: lack of time: 68.1%; lack of interest 7.7%; working abroad: 4.4%; distance to school: 3.3%; other reasons: 16.5% Romania: lack of time: 89%; lack of interest 6%; working abroad: 12%; distance to school: 28%; other reasons: 16% Turkey: lack of time: 39.90%; lack of interest 1.48%; working abroad: 3.94%; distance to school: 13.79%; other reasons: 0.49%; they don’t know why: 46.31

22. 15. How do they keep in touch with teachers? Estonia: by telephone: 63.5%; via e-mail: 5.3%; by coming to school: 14.6%; they do not keep in touch with teachers: 16.6% Romania: by telephone: 30%; via e-mail: 0%; by coming to school: 97%; they do not keep in touch with teachers: 3% Turkey: by telephone: 74.87%; via e-mail: 3.44%; by coming to school: 82.24%; they do not keep in touch with teachers: 3.45%

23. 16. Parents’ attitude towards school Estonia: they appreciate it: 82.8%; they despise it: 2.2%; they are passive: 15% Romania: they appreciate it: 88%; they despise it: 0%; they are passive: 12% Turkey: they appreciate it: 77.34%; they despise it: 7.37%; they are passive: 15.29%

24. 17. If the students’ opinions are similar to their parents’ Estonia: Yes: 80%; No: 20% Romania: Yes: 84%; No: 16% Turkey: Yes: 67.49%; No: 32.51%

25. 18. Reasons for attending school Estonia: because of the family: 7.9%; for a career: 54.8%; for financial reasons: 4%; to socialize: 11.9%; because they like school: 16.6%; do not know why: 4.8% Romania: because of the family: 62%; for a career: 88%; for financial reasons: 2%; to socialize: 73%; because they like school: 54%; do not know why: 15%; due to law: 8% Turkey: because of the family: 25.62%; for a career: 75.37%; for financial reasons: 14.78%; to socialize: 34.48%; because they like school: 23.65%; do not know why: 10.84%

26. 19. If they find family involvement in students’ school activity beneficial Estonia: Yes: 64.3%; No 5.1%; Maybe: 30.6% Romania: Yes: 92%; No 0%; Maybe: 8% Turkey: Yes: 70%; No 5%; Maybe: 25%

27. Conclusions: • The two schools from Romania and Turkey are attended by teenagers (14-19) while the school from Estonia is attended by younger students (8-16). • The Romanian and Estonian schools are public while the Turkish school is private. • In Romania and Turkey the majority of the students are from urban areas (63% & 83%) while in Estonia the students are all from the rural area. • In Estonia the majority of the students live with their parents (98%) while in Romania and Turkey the percentage is lower (60% & 54.68%). That means that in Romania and Turkey a lot of students do not live with their parents because their parents live in a different place than the town is or because they work abroad. • As to the parents’ marital status there is a great difference between the Estonian and the Turkish parents. While in Estonia only 44% are married, in Turkey 93% are married. Romania is somewhere between (77%).

28. As to family composition Estonia and Turkey are somehow similar regarding the number of brothers and sisters (97%, 90.64%). In Romania the percentage of unique children is higher (42%). • As to the frequency of meeting their parents the higher percentage is in Estonia ( 95.7%). An explanation could be the lower age and the fact that they all live either with their parents of with their relatives. • In all countries those who live with their parents spend more than an hour together ( EE 87%, RO 77%, TK 53.2%) • In all three countries the degrees of satisfaction or insatisfaction related to parents-children relationship are almost the same (satisfied between 60%-70%, sometimes between 28%-32% and never between 1%- 6%).

29. According to the students’ answers in all countries they share their school problems with their families in a fairly high percentage. Still there are students who do not discuss such problems with their parents ( EE 6.2%, RO 2%, TK 7.88) • We also noticed that in all countries both parents are interested in their children’s school activity. It is interesting to point out the fact that in Turkey the number of fathers involved in the children’s education is higher. • Almost all parents come to school mostly for the parental meetings. • We can notice that in Turkey many parents come to school far more often than in Estonia and Romania (41.87% come to school monthly). Thus, the lowest percentage of parents who never come to school is in Turkey.

30. Reasons for not coming to school: lack of time in EE and RO ( 68.1%, 89%) and in Turkey 46.31 % of the students whose parents do not come to school are not aware of the parents’ reasons for not coming. • As to the way parents keep in touch with school we can mention that the telephone is very popular in Estonia and Turkey . The e-mail is not used at all in Romania. It is true that it is used in a quite low percentage both in Estonia and Turkey. • The parents attitude towards school is positive in all countries ( EE 82.8%; RO 88%; TK 77.34%) • The students share almost the same opinion with their parents but in Turkey only 67.49% have the same opinions as their parents while in EE the percentage is 80% and in RO 84%.

31. The main reason for coming to school is in all countries the desire to prepare themselves for a future career. • The majority of students find family involvement in their school activity beneficial . The highest percentage is to be found in Romania ( 92%).

32. Results –Teachers I. General information about the target group 1. Sex Estonia: males 25%; females 75% Romania: males 20%; females 80% Turkey: males 62%; females 38%

33. 2. Education Estonia: secondary 18.75%; high school 75%; others 6.25% Romania: high school 100% Turkey: high school 100%

34. 3. Place of residence Estonia: rural 7%; urban 93% Romania: urban 100% Turkey: urban 100%

35. 4. Religion Estonia: believers:12.5%; nonbelievers: 75%; agnostics 12.5% Romania: believers: 85.5%; nonbelievers: 0%; agnostics 7.3% No answer 7.3 Turkey: with parents: believers:100%; nonbelievers: 0%; agnostics 0%

36. Collaboration with parents: How often do you meet the parents? Estonia: Once a year: 6.25%; Twice a year: 56.25%; Every month:6.25%; Every week: 18.7% Romania: Once a year: 25%;Twice a year: 59%; Every month:5%; Every week: 2.5% No answer 8.5% Turkey: Once a year: 0%;Twice a year: 17%; Every month:58%; Every week: 25%%

37. Where do you meet them? Estonia: at school: 81.2%; at home:12.5% ; at the parents’ working place 6.25%; outside school 75% Romania: at school: 90%; at home:0% ; at the parents’ working place 0%; outside school 7.5%; both at school and outside: 2.5% Turkey: at school: 80%; at home:72% ; at the parents’ working place 3%; outside school 0%

38. Are you satisfied with the parents’ attitude towards you ? Estonia: Yes 87.55% ; No 12.5% Romania: Yes 36.5% ; No 27%; I can’t say: 36.5% Turkey: Yes 100% ; No 0%

39. Are you satisfied with the parents’ attitude towards school ? Estonia: Yes 87.5% ; No 12.5% Romania: Yes 36.5% ; No 27%; I can’t say: 36.5% Turkey: Yes 97% ; No 3 %

40. Do you consider the meetings with the parents beneficial for influencing the students behaviour? Estonia: Very beneficial 6.25%; Sometimes 87.5%; Satisfied 12.55; Not satisfied 0% Romania: Very beneficial 47.7%; Sometimes 40%; Satisfied 9.8; Not satisfied 2.5% Turkey: Very beneficial 60%; Sometimes 27%; Satisfied 3%; Not satisfied 0%

41. If you have a problem with one of the students, how would you solve the problem ? Estonia: Inviting the parents to school 13.2%; Calling them to school 31.25%; Talking to the student 68.75%; Talking to the colleagues 25%; Talking to the Headmaster 18.75% Romania: Inviting the parents to school 17.5%; Calling them to school 5%; Talking to the student 35%; Talking to the colleagues 5 %; Talking to the Headmaster 2.5% Turkey: Inviting the parents to school 31%; Calling them to school 27%; Talking to the student 90%; Talking to the colleagues 3%; Talking to the Headmaster 9%

42. How do you react when you notice parents trust their children and they don’t trust you? Estonia: I try to convince him that I’m right 0%; I try to explain him that I’m right 12.5%; I try to explain him that he’s wrong and he should listen to both parts 87.5%. Romania: I try to convince him that I’m right 2.5%; I try to explain him that I’m right 15%; I try to explain him that he’s wrong and he should listen to both parts 82.5%. Turkey: I try to convince him that I’m right 18%; I try to explain him that I’m right 3%; I try to explain him that he’s wrong and he should listen to both parts 79%.

43. Conclusions: • In Romania and Estonia most of teachers are women while in Turkey most of teachers are men. • In Romania and Turkey all teachers have high studies while in Estonia 18.75 have only secondary education . The explanation could be that some of them teach in the primary level. • Most of teachers live in urban areas. • As to religion in Romania and Turkey most of them are believers while in Estonia only 12.5 are believers.

44. Collaboration with parents: • In Estonia and Romania teachers meet parents mostly twice a year while in Turkey most of teachers meet the parents every month. • Most of the meetings are at school. In Turkey teachers visit the students at home, too. • While in Estonia and in Turkey teachers are satisfied with the parents ‘attitude towards them, in Romania only 36.5% are satisfied. • The same percentages appear when we refer to the degree of satisfaction related to parents’ attitude towards school.

45. Most of the teachers consider the meetings with parents beneficial, at least sometimes. • If they have problems with the students they solve the problems mainly by talking to the students and by inviting the parents to school. • The teachers’ reaction when they notice the parents prefer to trust their children than the teachers , most of them try to explain the parents that they are wrong and that they should listen to both parts.

46. Results –Parents I general information about the target group 1. Sex Estonia: males 14%; females 86% Romania: males 27%; females 73% Turkey: males 70%; females 30% PARENTS Estonia: ??? Romania: 320 Turkey: ???

47. 2. Education Estonia: primary 2%; middle 15%; secondary 31%; vocational 34%; high school 18% Romania: primary 0%; middle 10%; secondary 58%; high school 32% Turkey: primary 10%; middle 8%; secondary 30%; high school 48%; others 1%

48. 3. Place of residence Estonia: rural 100% Romania: rural 18% urban 82% Turkey: rural 13% urban 86%

49. 4. Religion Estonia: believers 5%; nonbelievers: 71%; agnostics 24% Romania: believers 100%; nonbelievers: 0%; agnostics 0% Turkey: with parents: believers 100%; nonbelievers: 0%; agnostics 0%

50. 5. Parents’ marital status Estonia: married 51%; divorced 5%; not married: 14% unregistered marriage: 29% Romania: married 84%; divorced 6%; deceased: 10% Turkey: married 93%; divorced 3.55%; deceased: 3.45%