"The role of the youth sector in the access of refugee students to Greek schools” (original) (raw)

2016, Journeys to a New Life, EU-CoE Partnership

In October 2015, the Joint Council on Youth adopted a Statement on the refugee crisis in Europe where, the Joint Council reminds the relevant Council of Europe bodies to encourage national governments and civil society organisations of the vital role of education as a means of addressing and tackling discrimination, segregation and marginalisation, as well as promoting the values of tolerance, respect and dignity. In September 2016, as a result of provisions made in the framework of Greece’s agreement with the EU, refugee students entered Greek schools. The newcomers’ presence caused reactions from parents and the clergy, who saw in these arrivals an alleged danger for the public health and national cohesion. At some cases, refugee children were even prevented from entering schools. Greek NGOs working at a grassroots level have been playing a vital role in lifting stereotypes and together with educational practitioners they have been safeguarding the access of refugees into Greek schools. The present paper provides good practices from the youth sector, based on a research conducted in Thessaloniki, where NGOs have been collaborating with researchers, as well as educational practitioners in order to facilitate refugees’ access to education. Non-formal learning tools and techniques are being implemented alongside with the formal curriculum in order to emotionally prepare locals and refugees for their co-existence and to promote intercultural dialogue and understanding. At a second level, the paper will comment on a void existing at the educational system with regards to the situation of young refugee students, for whom very few provisions have been made. In 2014 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted the report and resolution 1996 (2014)“Migrant Children: What Rights as 18?”.The document highlights the lamentable fact that young refugees and asylum-seekers between 18 and 25 are not acknowledged as a group with specific needs and the transition from one policy regime to the next can be particularly harsh” (Council of Europe, 2016). Refugee students face a number of problems, from linguistic barriers to bureaucracy, as well as lack of equivalence between institutions providing education and unrecognition of scholar titles (CoE, 2016, Drosopulos, 2016). Furthermore, instances of discrimination and potential conflict with the local community add to their emotional trauma inflicted by war, loss and separation (Bello, 2016). This situation calls for radical reforms. The youth sector could play a vital role in facilitating refugee students’ access to education and vocational training by conducting research, taking initiative and experimenting with new techniques and attitudes.