1 Migrants in the EU: education and training issues Maria Pia Sorvillo European Commission, Directorate General Education and Culture UNECE-Eurostat Work Session on Migration Statistics Genève, April 2010

2 High flow of immigrants from EU and third countries 10% of pupils with migrant background in many Member States Steep and sudden growth: in IE, IT, ES, school pupils born in another country multiplied by 3-4 since 2000 Education as a key in developing migrants’ potential to become well-integrated and successful citizens High flow of immigrants from EU and third countries 10% of pupils with migrant background in many Member States Steep and sudden growth: in IE, IT, ES, school pupils born in another country multiplied by 3-4 since 2000 Education as a key in developing migrants’ potential to become well-integrated and successful citizens Background

3 Ensuring Equal opportunity of access High level provision Outcome independent from socio economic background Facilitating More successful social and economic life for individuals Social stability and cohesion Economic growth Ensuring Equal opportunity of access High level provision Outcome independent from socio economic background Facilitating More successful social and economic life for individuals Social stability and cohesion Economic growth Equity in education

Commission Green Paper on migration and mobility: challenges and opportunities for EU education systems Aims to: – Encourage a debate on the issue – Reflect on what can be done at EU level Focuses on: – Individual factors of disadvantage – Systemic factors – Evidence Aims to: – Encourage a debate on the issue – Reflect on what can be done at EU level Focuses on: – Individual factors of disadvantage – Systemic factors – Evidence

A challenge for society: perpetuates exclusion and undermines social cohesion A challenge for education systems: –Diversity of languages, cultures and achievement levels –School segregation –Increasing polarisation derived from "white flight ” Diversity is a resource, but skills are needed to use it as such A challenge for society: perpetuates exclusion and undermines social cohesion A challenge for education systems: –Diversity of languages, cultures and achievement levels –School segregation –Increasing polarisation derived from "white flight ” Diversity is a resource, but skills are needed to use it as such Underachievement of migrants in education

Individual factors Low socio-economic background Family and community expectations Linguistic difficulties Lack of role models Underachievement

Systemic factors Segregation Teachers ’ Training /motivation Ability grouping/ Selection Early childhood education Varied country performances

Member States are invited to: Developing an integrated policy approach Setting up/strengthening anti-discrimination mechanisms Reducing differences in the quality of provision between schools Increase access to high quality early childhood education and care Improving partnerships with migrant communities and communication with parents Providing targeted support for migrants with special needs Collecting and analysing data Council Conclusions on Education of children with migrant background (26 Nov 2009)

Council Conclusions - 2 The Commission is invited to: Support cooperation and exchange of good practices among the Member States Cooperate with international organization working on related issues Monitor the achievement gap between native and migrant learners

Monitoring education Access Process Outcomes ACCESS

11 Performance in reading (IV grade)

12 Δ ~50 Performance in reading (15 years old)

13 Performance in mathematics (15 years old) Δ ~50

14 NativesMigrants Data source: Eurostat (LFS) Early leavers from e&t by migrant status, 2008 (rates) Data source: Eurostat (LFS) NativesMigrants

15 Data source: Eurostat (LFS) Low educated young people, 2008 (ratio non-natives/natives) Chart 7 Low educated (less than upper secondary) years old by migrant status (ratio non-natives/natives)

Commission working paper: Progress towards the Lisbon objectives in education and training - Indicators and benchmarks 2009 Migrants and education: Special education needs and the issue of language Key competences Early leavers from education and training Adult participation in adult learning Some evidence: the Progress Report 2009

Significant educational difficulties for migrants – Access – Segregation – Achievements – Educational levels Performance gaps (also after controlling for SES) In some countries, the second generation performs worse than the first one Significant educational difficulties for migrants – Access – Segregation – Achievements – Educational levels Performance gaps (also after controlling for SES) In some countries, the second generation performs worse than the first one Main findings

What do available data lack of…. Completeness Depth Width Comparability

Improve definition of policy needs Explore existing data sources Study technical and methodological improvements to increase data availability and reliability Improve definition of policy needs Explore existing data sources Study technical and methodological improvements to increase data availability and reliability Next steps Better monitoring of migrants’ education Identification of best practices More effective policies

Thank you for your attention