This week, our partner COFACE – Families Europe has published a position paper on “Building Inclusive Societies – First steps to bridging the gaps between family, education and migration policies”, which addresses the important role of education for inclusive societies.

As migrant children in mainstream education can experience challenges stemming from a lack of school resources and trained professionals, the paper highlights the need for appropriate systemic structures that allow for inclusive education in diverse environments. Particular attention should be given to children in migration who have been out of school while migrating and, therefore, should be quickly included in appropriate class settings. To fulfill the right to education and to contribute to the integration of migrant children it is equally important to involve parents and foster interventions beyond the education system. This would help to build bridges between local communities and newcomers.

Eurodiaconia welcomes this publication and its emphasis on the importance of education for equal societies and for contesting prejudice and discrimination. Our members support the integration of migrant and refugee children across Europe ranging from emergency aid to supporting their access to education and social participation. Against this background, Eurodiaconia has advocated for better access to education by increasing enrolment in schools and other types of education and by ensuring that schools have sufficient means to address migrant’s children’s needs. To develop our understanding of the special needs of children in migration among our members, we will organise a webinar and a migration network meeting dedicated to the social inclusion of migrant children.

 

To know more about the role of education for an inclusive society, check COFACE’s latest position paper.