09.08.2021 r. – Migration bulletin

 

We have been observing an inflow of migrants for some time now. They come to Poland for many reasons. More and more often they are accompanied by their families, including children.

Education in Poland is mandatory for all children and teenagers under 18 years of age. The law is also applicable to the children of foreigners, who are also obliged to learn, so the law foresees that all foreign children can use the education system on the same rules as Polish children. What it means is that each child, which comes to Poland, can start or continue its education here. It’s especially important, because education is not only related to science, but also integration.

After coming to Poland, both foreign and Polish children, who previously lived abroad and attended schools and kindergartens there, encounter difficulties, which demand assistance. One of the main problems can be poor or complete lack of knowledge of the Polish language. If that is the case, the head teacher of the given educational facility can organize extra Polish classes as well as extra classes of other subjects to even the level of knowledge in the class. Another possible solution is the organization of reception classes with maximum number of 15 students. In this case, the teacher with the help of an assistant implements an individual system of learning for each student. The assistant’s help is also foreseen in other classes attended by foreign children. This person helps the children to communicate, work during lessons and do homework. He or she also acts as an intermediary between teachers and parents.

Between 2018 and 2019, 54 thousand foreign children attended Polish schools and 300 students attended reception classes. Caritas Poland also supports foreign children with its after-school club classes, tuition reimbursement and distribution of the EduMap – a welcoming package for the youngest students, initiated in 2019-2020 as part of the project called “Support system for foreigners staying on the territory of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship” co-financed by FAMI.

 

More information about the education of foreign children can be found in the latest issue of the Bulletin, which is available in the download section of our website.