Integrating Immigrant Children into Schools in Europe

Integrating Immigrant Children into Schools in EuropeANNEXE 1 (CHAPTER 1)Figure 1.1: Reference documents on European Union policies and legislationrelating to the education of immigrant childrenA. Children of migrant workers who are Member State nationalsLegislative document:Council Directive 77/486/ECThe Directive obliges Member States, in cooperation with States of origin and in coordination withmainstream education, to promote teaching of the mother tongue and culture of the country oforigin. It calls on Member States to promote teaching adapted to the specific needs of suchchildren within a period of four years and to take the measures necessary for the initial and furthertraining of the teachers who are to provide this tuition.B. Children of third-country nationals who arrive on EU territory as well as ethnicminorities who have already settled in the EULegislative document:Council Directive 2000/43/ECThe Directive provides a legal framework for combating discrimination based on racial or ethnicorigin in different areas such as education. But the principle of non-discrimination does not extendto differences of treatment based on nationality and is without prejudice to provisions governingthe entry and residence of third-country nationals and to any treatment arising from their legalstatus.C. Minors who are the children of asylum seekers or themselves asylum seekersLegislative document:Council Directive 2003/9/ECAccess to the education system in accordance with conditions similar to those applicable toMember State nationals. Such education may be provided in accommodation centres.D. Children of immigrant parents who are legal residents and hold a long-term residencepermitLegislative document:Council Directive 2003/109/CEObligation on Member States to afford access for minors to the educational system underconditions similar to those laid down for their nationals, including the award of study grants inaccordance with national legislation. But Member States may restrict access to the educationalsystem by requiring proof of appropriate language proficiency.78