Learning together – How can the integration of refugee children in German classrooms succeed?
Since 2015, over one million refugees have come to Germany. Among them were an estimated 320,000 young refugees of school age. These children and adolescents with refugee experience have different cultural backgrounds and usually have only limited knowledge of German. Therefore they attend language learning classes, pre-courses, and welcome classes to integrate in Germany. However, integration into the German school system as well as into German society is often a challenge. Yet, successful integration and a successful school-leaving certificate are essential for later success in the German labour market. For socially disadvantaged school children and children with a migration background, the scientific literature shows that they have difficulties in the German education system and often only achieve a lower level of educational attainment. It is therefore crucial that teachers and pupils work together to ensure the integration of children and young people with experience of flight.
How can German schoolchildren support children and young people who fled to Germany in integrating into the German school system? Can they help them to learn German? If so, what form could such support take and what could German schoolchildren possibly learn from them in exchange?
How can everyday school life be structured so that children and young people with experience of flight are better supported? What can school management and teachers do better to integrate these children and young people and to enable them to exchange experiences with German school children?
Scientific Partner
