Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge and training needs of the primary school teacher candidates about the children's right to protection. For this purpose, the sample of this research, which is designed in descriptive survey model, consists of third and fourth grade students studying in the Department of Primary School Education. The data of the research were obtained by the “Questionnaire of Knowledge and Training Needs of Primary School Teacher Candidates on the Right to the Protection of the Child” prepared by the researchers referring to the opinions of the experts. As a result of the study, it was found out that teacher candidates did not participate in any informative education activities related to the children's right to protection during the period of university education. It has been observed that the teacher candidates have an idea about the symptoms and causes of neglect and abuse, and that they do not have sufficient knowledge about communicating with the child who has been neglected and abused, about the individuals and institutions that need to be reported for neglect and abuse, and about the legal intervention process and appropriate reporting procedures in case of neglect and abuse. Therefore, it was concluded that the teacher candidates' knowledge about the children's right to protection was insufficient, and that they should receive training on the subject. Based on these results, it is suggested that pre-service training programs offered to teacher candidates should include theoretical content about legal legislation, and psychological, sociological, and ethical aspects of the children's right to protection and skills training about the children’s right to protection.

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