Education of Refugee Children – Challenges and Solutions

Abstract

Today, in times of many armed conflicts taking place in the Middle East and Africa, accessibility and quality of education for refugee children have begun to be one of the most relevant issues in European countries which host these children or which are at their transit route. If we know that armed conflicts last, on average, 17 years and that it takes some time for families to decide to migrate, and that migration to final destination can last for many months, we conclude that millions of children spend several years without or with limited opportunities for education. As a result, they have gaps in their skills and knowledge, lowered self-efficacy and academic self-concept. When they resettle, they face many challenges in the process of adaptation to educational system, due to language and sociocultural barriers, on the one hand, and unpreparedness of the educational system (curriculum, teachers, local community, etc.) to integrate them effectively, on the other. Lack of quality learning opportunities and psychosocial support in schools and local communities, and experience of discrimination may lead to higher dropout rates, lower academic achievements and consequently to fewer chances for finding a well-paid job in the future. Girls are at a particular disadvantage. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an access to quality education to all refugee school-age children, both during their transition from their countries of origin to final destination, and in the countries in which they resettle. Recommendations for achieving this goal are provided, some being relevant for Serbian context.