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Name: Mediterranean Inclusive Schools
The EU education systems are facing an important challenge – the presence in schools of large numbers of children from a migrant background who are in a weak socio-economic position. In particular, the Mediterranean countries and their neighbours are one of the most affected by the waves of immigrants seeking for asylum and better life.
The presence of significant numbers of migrant pupils has important implications for education systems. Schools must adjust to their presence and build their particular needs into the traditional focus on providing high quality and equitable education. Education is key to ensuring that these pupils are equipped to become integrated, successful and productive citizens of the host country.
Thus, within classes and schools, it is necessary to accommodate the increased diversity of mother tongues, cultural perspectives and attainments. New, adapted teaching skills and inclusive methodologies are needed and new ways of building bridges with migrant families and communities must be developed.
Migration can be enriching for the educational experience of all as it can help to deepen and strengthen pedagogies, skills, and knowledge itself.
The combination of linguistic and cultural difference with socio-economic disadvantage, and its tendency to be concentrated in certain areas and particular schools are a substantial educational challenge and whether systems succeed or fail has important social consequences.
The MEDIS project is to strengthen and consolidate social cohesion, intercultural education and local language in a multilingual framework of newly arrived migrants at primary and secondary schools through the Mediterranean Inclusive Schools Programme. The programme will adapt teaching skills and inclusive methodologies needed by the educational community: teachers and other pupils.
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