Best practices on educating children featured at EU expert forum on migration
Eurochild promoted the importance of social and emotional well-being in education systems at the 6th European Migration Forum – “From pandemic to recovery: challenges and best practices in migration management”, on 27-28 October 2021. The gathering of experts and decision-makers recognised the value of sharing best practices to address the gap in access to education for children with a migration background.
In their key note addresses, both the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Christa Schweng and the European Commissioner for Migration & Home Affairs Ylva Johansson referred to the challenges faced by children with a migration background as a result of the pandemic, including widening inequalities around access to education, and speaking to the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion (2021-2027).
“We need to support our teachers, our school community. We need to make our schools a hub for integration, for children and for parents. We also need to support our schools with the digital challenges that migrant children face.” – Commissioner Ylva Johansson
During a workshop on access to education for children with a migration background, Eurochild shared its innovative Including Children Affected by Migration or ICAM Programme, that provides this support through a school-wide programme that builds social and emotional well-being among children through inclusion- and integration-based methods. The programme is being implemented in four countries – Italy, Romania, Spain and the U.K.
During this session, facilitated by the European Commission’s Vincent Catot, Eurochild proposed that the European Commission facilitate more opportunities for schools and local authorities across Europe to learn from innovative school practices funded by the EU.
In a few weeks, with ICAM partners & Members of the European Parliament, we will explore how such practices can overcome the devastating impact of COVID-19 on children’s rights to education and fair access to learning.
More information:
- For more information on the ICAM Programme, contact Ciaran O’Donnell
- Read more on the European Migration Forum
- To learn about existing good practices to promote integration across the EU, visit the European website on integration
