Page 10 - IO1-Report

KA201 - Strategic Partnerships for School Education
The Universal Language of Mathematics (2018-1-TR01-KA201-059704)

10 years and studies show their improved competencies in the school and education sector: Since 2006,
the number of immigrant foreign children and adolescents between the ages of six and 18 with a length
of stay of less than one year has more than quadrupled from 22,207 to 99,472 in 2014. (Massumi et al.
2015) Nevertheless, the educational situation of German and foreign youths still differs: Children and
young people with a migrant background are less likely to attend preschool education (“Kindergarten”),
they are overrepresented at lower secondary schools (“Hauptschule”) and underrepresented at
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advanced secondary schools (“Gymnasium”). (SVR 2019) This means that educational aspirations,
opportunities and trajectories of children with and without a migration background greatly differ, despite
many positive developments in the education system. However, because (social) origin should not be a
characteristic that influences educational progress, continuous improvement is needed to further
develop the educational opportunities of pupils with a migrant background. For example, early access
to early childhood education (“Kindergarten” and “KITA”) should be ensured which can make a
sustainable contribution to the integration. Furthermore, parents should be well informed and involved
in the German education system, and, last but not least, teachers and pedagogical staff need to be
prepared for an ethically and socially diverse student body already in university. (SVR 2016)

The integration of immigrant pupils into the education system, is an issue that has existed for several
decades in Germany. Nevertheless, from January 2015 to mid-2016, more than half a million children,
adolescents and young adults aged 6 to 25 have fled to Germany. (Bpb 2021) The influx of this high
number of pupils in a short period of time has challenged schools and educational institutions, as will
be discussed in more detail below. While the group of refugee children has been with regard to their
origin, social milieu, language, level of education, etc. just as heterogeneous as the rest of the student
body, their specific situation must be taken into account when considering facts and figures on their
school and educational situation. They have travelled long distances, often had traumatic experiences
before or during their flight (Pagel et al. 2020) and only 50 percent of refugee children visited a primary
school in their country of origin. (BAMF 2016) Especially unaccompanied foreign minors represent a
particularly vulnerable group of refugees. But structural disadvantages and discrimination of refugee
children must also be taken into account, which arises in particular from asylum, residence and benefit
law, administrative practice or stereotypes and prejudice within societies. (El-Mafaalani/Massumi 2019)

As already mentioned, the term ‘Integration’ includes social, professional and cultural participation of
people. This also implies equal participation in the education and school system which is of high
importance, especially for refugee children for several reasons: In addition to the fact that school
learning content is taught, they create opportunities to promote integration, to speak or hear the
German language and to come into contact with cultural ideas and values of the German majority
society. (Pagel et al. 2020) In this respect, as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research states,
"education is the key to the integration of refugees". (BMBF 2020) Furthermore, regardless of the
residence title, every child has the right to school education (Art. 28 UN-Convention on the Rights of
the Child; Art. 3 GG (principle of equality within the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany)
and school attendance in Germany is compulsory for refugee children from the age of six. Problematic,

4 The “Gymnasium” qualifies for the transition to university, whereas pupils from “Hauptschule” may start an apprenticeship
(Ausbildung) or enroll in a vocational school (Berufsschule).
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