Abstract:

This study has been carried out to determine opinion and awareness level of primary school teachers about child exploitation and neglect. General scanning method was used during the execution of the study. The 369 samples were randomly chosen among 3123 primary school teachers working at primary schools in center counties of Kayseri- Melikgazi, Kocasinan and Talas. Questionnaires developed by the researchers were applied to those teachers. Of the teachers who took part in the study, 79,1 % had had no education about child exploitation and neglect; 75,8 % hadn’t been informed about child protection law; 76,1 % needed to be informed about the subject. 84,4 % of the teachers stated that, according to the laws, they have to report child exploitation and neglect; and 98 % of the teachers expressed that they are responsible to report it in terms of moral worthes. The teachers preferred the school administration (x=1.67) the most to report the child exploitation and neglect. 81,2 % of the 369 teachers replied the definitions and symptoms about physical exploitation correctly; with 92,9 % to emotional exploitation and neglect; with 91,4 % to sexual exploitation; with 69,1 % to economic exploitation, with 61,7 % to physical neglect, and with 81 % to educational neglect. The teachers considers themselves competent about child exploitation and neglect at mid-level (2,613,40). Examining the answers to definitions and symptoms, it has been found that the awareness of teachers about child exploitation and neglect is at a high level.

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