School Leadership in Northern Cyprus: Reflections on Diversity and Social Justice in Education

• In Event: As the World Turns: School and District Reform From a Global Perspective

Abstract

In line with Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework, we aimed to explore the role of school leadership in creating an inclusive learning environment and providing a more equitable educational experience for immigrant students in the Northern Cyprus (NC) context. In the last two decades, schools in NC have faced challenges due to increasing numbers of immigrant students. We interviewed 10 school principals working at elementary schools in NC. Our analysis showed that leadership abilities of school principals play a vital role in celebrating diversity and ensuring social justice in education. Our interviews point to the needs of school leaders in increasing their agency and capacity to compensate for inequalities that immigrant students face in the NC context.

Authors

• Tuba Gokmenoglu, Ministry of National Education

• Pınar Mercan Küçükakın, Middle East Technical University