SCHOOL

European Union: Eurydice Report, “migrant students achieve better results when integrated”

(Brussels) “Integrating Students from Migrant Backgrounds into Schools in Europe” – this is the 196-page report published today by Eurydice, a network promoting the study of education systems and policies in the 38 countries of the Erasmus+ programme. The report investigates access to education, learning, psychosocial and linguistic support, the role of teachers and school heads as well as the governance of education. The point of departure is that “migrant students tend to perform less well in school than their native-born peers” and often experience a weaker sense of well-being. However, according to a study based on data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), “migrant students achieve better academic results when they are integrated”. “Education has a critical role in promoting” integration, since it creates “a sense of belonging around common values” and encourages students “to become active members of our societies”, said Commissioner for Education Tibor Navracsics. The report shows “what EU Member States are doing to ensure that all students across Europe reach their full potential”. For its part, the European Union “supports a wide range of actions”, including “policy cooperation”, sharing “success stories”, the independent network Sirius, and funding opportunities through the Erasmus+ programme.