Social, extra-curricular activities offered to students at low and high socio-economic status upper secondary schools in Turkey according to school principals’ views

Abstract

Using PISA 2009 data, the purpose of this study is to analyze the social activities offered to students at low and high socio-economic status (SES) upper secondary schools in Turkey according to school principals’ views. In the study, descriptive analyses were made. Study group consisted of totally 100 school principals, at low and high SES upper secondary schools. The most activity offered by low and high SES schools to students is sporting team or sporting activities; and the least is collaboration with local newspapers at low SES, collaboration with local libraries at high SES. The percentage of high SES upper secondary schools offer following activities is significantly higher than the percentage of low SES schools: school play or school musical; school yearbook, newspaper or magazine; debating club or debating activities; school club or school competition for foreign language, math or science; lectures and/or seminars; collaboration with local newspapers. Additionally; although, the Regulation of Social Activities is designed ideally in terms of the dimensions such as functioning, rudiments, processes, tasks, monitoring and evaluation, the results of this study or the results of literature show that this design does not reflect on practice. In terms of social activities offered to students at all school, the index value of Turkey is, 0.38, higher than OECD average. But it is insufficient, when comparing, at least, with New Zealand, the United States, Korea and the United Kingdom, which show over 1.00 (one standard deviation) in index value.