Migrant education and community inclusion: Examples of good practice
Outside the formal educational context, a number of people play important roles in the social and educational development of young learners: Parents, peers, and other community actors can offer direct academic help and emotional support, as well as serve as role models.
Migrant communities and parents often have high aspirations for their children, and can provide support that will help students in school matters and general life issues. And community members can motivate children along their educational path and further their involvement in society.
Conversely, lack of community involvement in formal educational matters and mismanagement of education policies may negatively affect the integration of immigrants and their children, with significant social and economic costs.
While European education policies have been moving toward the recognition of immigration as a fundamental phenomenon to be considered across educational initiatives, important steps have yet to be taken to reach the international goals set by European leaders and to truly improve integration and social cohesion.
A new policy brief published by MPI Europe and the SIRIUS Policy Network on the education of children and youngsters with a migrant background, Migrant education and community inclusion: Examples of good practice, examines a number of successful practices that bring families and communities into the educational process.
While such initiatives will not solve all integration concerns by themselves, the brief argues they can play a role in bringing lasting improvements in social cohesion and sustainable diversity across Europe as one element of a broader strategic outlook.
This is the fifth in a series of six policy briefs prepared by MPI Europe for the SIRIUS Network, which is co-financed by the European Union. The final brief, on early school leaving, will be published next week. You can read the series here, as well as learn more about the SIRIUS Nework here.
KJ