INTEGRATING MINORITY, MIGRANT AND REFUGEE PUPILS IN SCHOOLS

Minorities, migrants and refugees have been increased significantly in the recent years bringing changes in the structure of societies. Their efforts to search for better economic and social opportunities, often force them to cross borders and settle in new areas. The inclusion of minorities, migrants and refugees increases diversity in schools and societies. In this context, societies are responsible to formulate rules and policies. Schools have an important role to play for the integration of minorities, migrants and refugees. Through understanding of, respect for and α productive dialogue between the different groups, schools aim to go beyond passive coexistence, to achieve a developing and sustainable way of living together in multicultural societies.

This 6-day course gives participants theoretical background about the integration of minorities, migrants and refugees in schools, as well as practical guidelines to integrate activities and implement programmes across the areas of the curriculum and school life. Discussions, site visits and group works will enrich sharing ideas and exchange of practice between participants. There is also the possibility to extend the course to 7-day.

Objectives:
During the course, participants will
• discuss issues about migration in Europe & refugee crisis, challenges faced by migrant children, education policies supporting migrant children and dealing with the parents
• discuss issues about Intercultural education (characteristics and models).
• practice activities for team building; cultural awareness and expression; that enhance the sense of belonging and intercultural activities in a multicultural classroom.
• discuss issues about the language of instruction and the home language
• examine ways of managing diversity in classroom and creating inclusive culture in school
• examine best practices & policies for integrating minority, migrant & refugee children
• identify opportunities to integrate intercultural content across the areas of curriculum
• examine the school and classroom planning for intercultural education
• examine the use of ICT tools for classroom communication; for intercultural dialogue; for finding resources
• examine ways about creating a secure and enriching environment for migrant children
• deal with incidents of racism and bullying
• visit sites, museums, monuments etc. and plan activities/ programmes.

Preparation:
Participants will be able to introduce themselves and bring a few examples of activities/ programmes about integrating minority, migrant and refugee pupils in their school / community.

DAY 1
• Migration & refugee crisis
• Dealing with migrant students' challenges
• How do we deal with classroom diversity?
• Migration & Education
• Dealing with the parents
• Education policies supporting migrant children
• ICT tools for classroom communication

DAY 2
• Activities for team building
• Integrating newly arrived migrant students
• Integrating migrant students in school
• Activities for cultural awareness and expression
• The use of ICT for intercultural dialogue
• Early school leaving
• The sense of belonging -Activities that enhance the sense of belonging
• Doing artworks
• Creating a secure and enriching environment

DAY 3
• Visit to Limassol Old city center, Carob Mill Museum, Medieval Castle & Museum and other monuments.
• Doing activities in the city center.
• Data collection for the group work.

DAY 4
• ICT tools for finding resources
• Teaching the language of instruction
• Home language teaching
• Intercultural education
• Models for Intercultural education
• Characteristics of Intercultural education
• Activities that encourage communication
• Globalization and Intercultural Education
• Inclusive education
• Intercultural activities in a multicultural classroom
• Intercultural education in Cyprus
• Activities for integration of migrant pupils at Cypriot schools

DAY 5
• School planning
• Classroom planning
• Celebrating diversity
• Visit to a school.
• Visit to Municipal Gallery and Municipal Garden.
• Data collection for group work.

DAY 6
• Thematic approach
• Activities for Secondary Education
• Facing incidents of racism and bullying
• Participants complete the group work, presentation of group work, review of the course, certificates.

DAY 7 (optional)
• Visit to Paphos Archaeological Park with Roman mosaics, Paphos Medieval Castle and port.

Registrations: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzIdKlNFBrCfW8h3JWiOBaveUy2edIsVNeCvgSy4ICwB70sw/viewform?c=0&w=1