Education: Hope for newcomers in Europe
Legal access to education for young adults without a recognised school leaving certificate differs widely between the states. In Bremen and some other states, young adults have legal access to preparatory courses in vocational schools until the age of 18. Other states generally grant access until the age of 21, and exceptional access rights may be granted until the age of 27 (SVR, 2017a, p.132). After access is granted, students can finish their education in the respective schools – provided they are not forced to leave the country. 2.2.2. The organisation of school integration Once children and youth access regular public schools, integration models vary widely between states. The organisation of the introductory phase is mostly regulated by administrative regulations and not by legislation. It is a widely accepted assumption that new immigrants must learn the German language first.20 Therefore, children and youth usually have to attend preparatory German classes before being integrated into regular classes. These classes have different names (among them Vorkurs [pre-course] in Bremen, international preparatory class in Hamburg, welcome class21 in Berlin). Curricula are often undefined (SVR, 2017a, p.131) and may include only German language tuition or, in some cases, additional subject-oriented content. Five models of integration in Germany have been identified (Table 1): • Immersion22 without any specific extra support • Integrative with regular classes and supplementary German classes • Partly integrative with a mix of German classes and regular class attendance • Parallel classes can be given temporarily as a step towards integration into regular classes after three months to two years until school leaving certificate without integration in a regular class with students socialised in Germany.
20 While acknowledging that schools have broad tasks with respect to knowledge in subjects, skills and democratic values, the renowned Expert Council of German Foundations on Migration and Integration states in its report for 2017: “Most new migrants first and foremost have to learn the German language”. [translation by authors] (SVR, 2017a, p.126). 21 In the city of Bremerhaven, the term ‘welcome class’ refers to preparatory German classes that are given outside regular school premises in refugee accommodation. 22 The German term ‘submersives Modell’ would directly translate into immersion model.
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