Integrating Immigrant Children into Schools in Europe

Chapter 1 – European Policies in Education for Immigrant ChildrenCompared to the 1977 Convention, these measures broaden the remit to include immigrant childrenfrom non-member countries. They have to do with children who enter the territory of a Member Statewith their parents, and children of immigrant origin who were born in the host country but whose legalstatus has not been explicitly clarified.On the basis of these four legal provisions, the Council of Europe recommends that action concernedwith the integration of immigrant children into the education system should be taken in three areas asfollows: adapting the system to their special educational needs; including lessons on the language andculture of the country of origin in mainstream school curricula; and promoting intercultural education forall. In recent years, the Council of Europe has carried out a whole range of activities aimed at supportingmore intensive work in these areas by its Member States.According to the reference documents (shown in Figure 1.2 of annexe 1), the special educational needs ofimmigrant children require in particular that the cultural environment should be taken into account inassessing abilities and knowledge. The importance of drawing up measures for the integration of girls isalso referred to.The promotion of intercultural education entails initial and in-service training of teachers, and thedevelopment of suitable teaching materials.In 2000, the Committee of Ministers issued a recommendation on immigrants who are long-term legalresidents (i.e. who have been residents for at least five years) ( 9 ). This recommendation states that theymust have the same educational entitlements as host country nationals.( 9 ) Recommendation (2000) 15.15