Page 8 - IO1-Report

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

Figure 3 Overview on Applications for Asylum in Germany 1973 - 2017 (Hanewinkel/Oltmer 2018)

In the year 2015, Syria has been one of the main countries of origin of refugees moving to Germany,
with approx. 326,900 persons. (BAMF 2016) In the meantime, however, refugee movements have also
changed. While in previous years most of the refugees have come from Syria and Afghanistan to Europe,
in 2020 it was mainly people from North Africa: around one in five came from Tunisia - 14 and 8 per
cent each from Algeria and Morocco. (UNHCR 2020) The vast majority of refugees, however, cite fear
of war and violence (70 %), persecution (44 %) and forced recruitment (36 %) as reasons for fleeing.
(Brücker et al. 2017) Further studies on living conditions have shown that the refugees have very
different prerequisites and desires for a life in Germany. What they have had in common is a high
motivation to work and a willingness to integrate. (Brücker et al. 2016) The biggest challenges for their
labour market integration have been the acquisition of language skills and educational qualifications as
well as overcoming institutional barriers. (ibid)

Socio-economic surveys indicate that that the qualification structure of (adult) refugees (school-leaving
qualifications as well as university degrees), has been very heterogeneous overall and differs
significantly depending on countries of origin. (IW Köln 2017) According to Brücker et al. (2017), 40
percent of adult refugees who arrived in Germany between 2013 and January 2016 have attended
secondary school, and 35 percent have obtained a corresponding school-leaving qualification in their
home countries. Around eleven percent of the refugees, both men and women, have had only primary
school-level education and a further eleven percent have stated that they had not attended school in
their home country. (Brücker et al. 2017) Although many refugees haven’t had vocational or higher
education qualifications, they often have demonstrated years of work experience. (Brücker et al. 2017)
However, only some of the refugees interviewed have been aware of the extent to which labour market
success in Germany is linked to the acquisition of formal vocational qualifications. (Brücker et al. 2016)
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