Migrant children in schools in Serbia: Barrier or challenge for a new beginning

Abstract

The inclusion of migrant children into the formal education system of the Republic of Serbia represents a long-term project implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development with the support of international organizations and civil society organizations. Te education system of the Republic of Serbia in terms of their education faces two key challenges. The first challenge is that they are in transit through Serbia and the length of their stay unpredictable. Another challenge relates to the comprehensive approach and commitment system as a whole. Consequently, the subject of this paper is to identify the legal and institutional framework for the inclusion of migrant children into the formal education system, as well as the analysis of the situation in practice. the aim is to test the implementation of the previous model for the inclusion of migrant children into the formal education system of the Republic of Serbia. the aim of the work is concretized through specific that include the organization and realization of teaching in schools in combined classes of students, but also in the context of reception centers, as well as support to students through additional work after implementation in primary school. By examining the attitudes of all participants involved in the educational process (migrant children, teachers, school director and professional associates) contribute to reducing prejudice and stereotypes about migrant children, as well as the exercise of their rights in the education system. the applied methodology, which included surveys and semi-structured interviews, obtained the guidelines for the effective implementation of the existing normative framework aimed at successful integration of migrant children into society. the results suggest that migrant children in educational institutions acquire functional knowledge and skills in order to adapt to the new environment, socialization, stress relief, a sense of security and freedom.

Uključivanje dece migranata u formalni obrazovni sistem Republike Srbije predstavlja dugoročan projekat koji sprovodi Ministarstvo prosvete, nauke i tehnološkog razvoja uz podršku međunarodnih organizacija i organizacija civilnog društva. Obrazovni sistem Republike Srbije se po pitanju njihovog obrazovanja suočava sa dva ključna izazova. Prvi izazov je što se oni nalaze u tranzitu kroz Srbiju te je dužina njihovog boravka nepredvidiva. Drugi izazov se odnosi na sveobuhvatni pristup i angažovanje sistema u celini. Shodno tome, predmet ovog rada jeste identifikacija zakonodavnog i institucionalnog okvira za uključivanje dece migranata u formalni obrazovni sistem, kao i analiza stanja u praksi. Cilj rada je testiranje primene dosadašnjeg modela za uključivanje dece migranata u formalni obrazovni sistem Republike Srbije. Opšti cilj rada je konkretizovan kroz specifične koji obuhvataju način organizacije i realizacije nastave u školama u kombinovanim odeljenjima učenika, ali i u okviru prihvatnih centara, kao i podršku učenicima kroz dopunski rad nakon uključivanja u osnovnu školu. Ispitivanjem stavova svih aktera uključenih u obrazovno-vaspitni proces (dece migranata, nastavnika, direktora škola i stručnih saradnika) može se doprineti smanjivanju predrasuda i stereotipa o deci migrantima, kao i efikasnijem ostvarivanju njihovog prava u sistemu obrazovanja. Primenjenom metodologijom, koja je obuhvatila anketna istraživanja i polustrukturisane intervjue, dobijene su smernice za efikasniju implementaciju postojećih normativnih okvira koji imaju za cilj uspešniju integraciju dece migranata u društvo. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da deca migranti u obrazovno-vaspitnim ustanovama stiču funkcionalno znanje i veštine u cilju adaptacije na novu sredinu, socijalizacije, oslobađanja od stresa, osećaja sigurnosti i slobode.