Policies needed to integrate education

[alz]

Policies needed to integrate education

20 October 2006 09:18

The Government needs to develop policies to integrate refugees and other non-Europeans living here into the education system, according to a study to be published today.
The new research highlights a maze of difficulties which can make it impossible for young refugees and others born elsewhere to get to college.
There are nine case studies in this report, and they all paint the same picture.
For residents born outside the EU, trying to get a third-level education here can be a nightmare.
The barriers include a mire of bureaucracy, social welfare traps and sometimes great difficulty getting the simplest information.
This report is critical of the fact that long term migrants and their children never become entitled to 'free' third level fees here, even though they are taxed at the very same rate as Irish workers.
It calls for changes to residency requirements that mean students who are recognised refugees can be expected to pay fees of up to ?10,000 per year.
The report was commissioned by the charity Pobal.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1020/education.html

Мысль конечно интересная...

[abg]

ну иначе взрастят поколение людей, живущих на велфере и знающих, что им ничего не светит в "процветающей knowledge-based economy". и начнется еще одна франция.

[alz]

Похоже идет к тому
Другое покоробило: сама по себе идея уравнивания доступности образования для местного населения и для приехавших и живущих достаточно продолжительное время иностранцев, в-целом очень здравая, если бы не одно но. Обрати внимание на последний абзац:
> It calls for changes to residency requirements that mean students who are recognised refugees can be expected to pay fees of up to ?10,000 per year.
Тенденция, однако!

[SPDAY]

Non-EU nationals with study plan 'devastated' by barriers
Kitty Holland


Foreign nationals planning to study in Ireland face a maze of confusing and unco-ordinated policies, a study published yesterday revealed.
Molly O'Duffy, of the Dublin Inner City Partnership and author of the report, Barriers to access to Further and Higher Education for non-EU Nationals Resident in Ireland, said the impact of the current situation on students was "devastating".
"Policies are ad hoc and ethnic minority students pay the price," she said.
The report, which was published by Pobal, says Ireland is obliged under various international instruments to take a human-rights based approach to education policy.
"When policies are being developed to implement political and economic objectives . . . an assessment of their impact on the enjoyment of the rights identified must be at the centre of the process."
The report identifies lack of clear information about how to get into university for someone new to the Irish system.
The non-recognition of prior qualifications gained in non-EU countries was also cited.
"A number of potential students interviewed had stories to illustrate what they saw as the patronising and uninformed attitude of universities and colleges to their prior learning and qualifications."
Financial problems also emerged as an issue, with the fact that non-EU nationals were not entitled to grants highlighted. Access to social welfare was also a recurring theme.
The report notes: "The fees charged to non-EU nationals are inconsistent and unrealistic."
Referring to the cultural problems it adds: ". . . students found they are now part of a religious or ethnic minority and have to deal with hostility and prejudice".
It continues that it should not be assumed adapting could be left to the student, saying there is an onus on colleges to be proactive in accommodating diversity.
"Incidents of discrimination and racism do occur . . . and strategies to combat this are inadequate." Racism exists at the individual and institutional levels, it adds.
Among the report's recommendations are:
• A national policy for teaching English as a second language in schools be developed.
• Non-EU nationals who have been long-term resident in Ireland be entitled to educational grants.