Orient School for the High Achievers in Reyhanli, Hatay, Turkey

OSHA targets Syrian students in both elementary and middle schools, i.e. students from grades 1 through 8. OSHA especially focuses on students who had to leave school and students who find it difficult to integrate into Turkish schools due to financial or language barriers.

Computers have become an important and effective part of the educational process. They provide an easy way to help students understand their material and to provide information in a fun and enjoyable way. Thus, a computer room was added and equipped with a set of desktop computers. A school website was also launched: https://okul.orienthr.org. The website aides in the educational process and allows parents to monitor the progress of their children and their school records. The computer room is also used to provide programming courses for interested high-achieving students, and teacher training in e-lesson design.

OHR helped develop the educational process in OSHA by introducing school custom tablets that contain all curricula for students in the different grades. OSHA was one of the first schools selected by the Al-Ma’rifa commission to implement the “Dima” project in its elementary education and to introduce smart screens to better the educational process and follow-up with students remotely. In addition, all teachers were trained to use e-learning techniques to provide the best services to students.

Science laboratories in schools are very important tools in helping the students visualize theoretical material, conceptualize it, and better their understanding of it. Thus, OSHA contains a science lab that is equipped with all the necessary material to conduct all science experiments the students are to learn.

School is the second home of students. In schools, students should not only get knowledge, they should also receive values, ethics, guidance, and plenty of other skills that better prepare them for life. Due to the importance of establishing balanced and stable school generations, OSHA has emphasized the role of psychological support in the lives of young students. Psychological support is not only limited to student guidance, but to parents as well. Students’ parents receive educational sessions about how to best treat a child and respond to their needs. Guidance sometimes takes the form of lectures provided to students, teachers, and parents.