The World in a Classroom. Teaching to Migrant Students in the Schools of Europe.

EUROPE - Schools are crucial integration hubs. This investigation is about teaching migrant students in the schools of Europe.

In many European cities teachers deal daily with the arrivals of young migrants and refugees, who may have experienced violence, war and loss, and who must adapt hurriedly to a language and a culture different from their own. Special interventions - such as language courses and psychological and learning support – are often desperately needed. But scarce funding and inconsistent school policies warrant a failure to deliver these vital services. Teachers struggle while juggling few resources, and migrant students often underperform and have a more difficult school experience.

This cross-border investigation looks at how schools deal with migrant teenagers in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and UK and what the main challenges for their teachers are. We asked:

Are there common national guidelines, and how can a local school adapt to these?

Are there dedicated and sufficient funding and specialized staff?

Do teachers have the necessary training and skills and what would they need more?
What are the best practices developed for the intercultural dialogue?
Last, but most important, in a time where Europe seems to close its borders, are schools giving equal opportunities to all the students, or is the right to education at risk?

📷 by Carolina Rapezzi

Author(s)

Carolina is an Italian freelance photojournalist who works on social, humanitarian and environmental issues world wide.

Marzia Minore is a freelance journalist based in Italy, investigating on social and environmental issues, agriculture and food, migration, education.

I became a journalist after completing a Bachelor of Political Science in Montreal and a Master of Journalism at IPJ-Paris Dauphine.

Sal Ahmed covers European news and current affairs for a variety of international news outlets.

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