EnhanCing the ParticipatiOn and Learning Performance of Migrant and RefUgee Children in PRimary School Education Erasmus Project

Project Title

EnhanCing the ParticipatiOn and Learning Performance of Migrant and RefUgee Children in PRimary School Education

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Integration of refugees; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The E-COURSE project aims to improve the access, participation and learning performance of migrant and refugee children in primary schools in Germany, Greece, Italy, France and Cyprus, as well as at EU level, to support their integration into the host society.The aims:- to improve the professionalism of teachers in dealing with migrant and refugee children and diversity in classrooms- to help schools to promote the inclusion and learning success of newly arrived students, thus helping to prevent early school leaving- to support migrant and refugee children in primary schools and thus improve their learning performance- strengthen the cooperation between all stakeholders of the school community (leadership, teachers, other staff, students and their families).E-COURSE’s target groups include school and teaching staff, social workers in primary education, volunteers, education authorities and other relevant actors as well as newly arrived children and their parents and any family with a migrant background. E-COURSE appeals to all contributors to the school community and wants to support every interested person.The project consists of three phases in which tools and methods were developed and tested in pilot schools in Germany, France, Greece, Italy and Cyprus. The long-term goal is to make the developed products available to a large number of schools at European level.In the first phase of the project, the thematic core as well as needs in the school context were documented in comprehensive research as well as focus groups with a total of more than 45 persons. In addition, competencies and best practices of the participating countries were researched and collected. In the subsequent Learning Modules, with a total of more than 100 participants, teachers and school staff were trained and educated in five EU countries, specifically adapted to the needs of their country. The five Learning Modules were held twice each, to allow for feedback from the participants and evaluations to be considered in the second run, thus optimizing the modules. The second phase of the project consisted primarily of designing an online school support platform for teachers, newly arrived students and their parents. The previously developed Learning Modules were made available as digital versions on the platform, as well as homework support for migrant and refugee students, a forum for parent and teacher communication, and important information and emergency numbers for participating EU countries. The digital learning modules are available online as well as for download. The homework support is supported by retired teachers in five countries, who provide help and advice to the children at home. The school support platform was jointly tested and optimized in five countries with a total of 9 pilot schools. In the meantime, more than 2,500 people have visited and used the platform already. The third phase of the project consisted of developing and testing a policy methodology for the elaboration of school policies on diversity. This methodology was tested in the form of individual activity plans at a total of eight primary schools.In the course of the project, a total of seven information events were held, enabling more than 300 people to be reached. Further dissemination activities reached more than 80,000 people. The project website alone was visited over 10,700 times.Improving the professionalism of teachers in dealing with migrant and refugee children in primary school education, as well as diversity in classrooms, supporting the schools, the inclusion and learning success of newly arrived students, support migrant and refugee students and their accomplishments, E-COURSE has been and continues to contribute to improving the learning performance of migrant children in primary education, counteracting early school leaving, reducing access barriers and improving and support the cooperation of all stakeholders of the school community. This does not only have a positive effect on the integration process of migrant children, but also on their families. The continual accessibility of all results, tools and information in five languages ensures continued support at national and international level.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 256208,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

Institut für Migrations- und Aussiedlerfragen Heimvolkshochschule St. Hedwigs-Haus e.V. & Country: DE

Project Partners

• KENTRO MERIMNAS OIKOGENEIAS KAI PAIDIOU
• ASTIKI MI KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA FOUR ELEMENTS
• CANARY WHARF CONSULTING LIMITED
• PISTES SOLIDAIRES
• CENTRE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LTD-CARDET
• CESIE
• EUROPEAN SCHOOL HEADS ASSOCIATION