3.11. Gerichte ondersteuning: leerlingen met een kansarme sociaaleconomische achtergrond

"Nightingale" is een programma van de pedagogische hogeschool in Zug (Pädagogische Hochschule, PH Zug). Het programma houdt in dat een student van de hogeschool gekoppeld wordt aan een kind in de leeftijd van 8-12 jaar dat afkomstig is van een basisschool met een groot aantal kinderen die een migranten- en/of minderheidsachtergrond hebben. In 2016/2017 deden elf studenten van PH Zug mee aan het programma. Het programma biedt de mentor en het kind de gelegenheid om gedurende een periode van zeven of acht maanden ongeveer twee à drie uur per week bij elkaar te komen. Dit zijn informele ontmoetingen waarbij de mentor en het kind samen activiteiten uitvoeren, bijvoorbeeld naar de dierentuin of de bioscoop gaan, samen sporten enz. Het belangrijkste doel van Nightingale is bij te dragen aan de ontwikkeling van multicultureel bewustzijn en intercultureel leren van leraren in opleiding door het begeleiden van kinderen met een sociaal en etnisch diverse achtergrond. Het project streeft er ook naar de contacten tussen universiteitsstudenten en basisschoolleerlingen te bevorderen en de kloof tussen theorie en praktijk op de lerarenopleiding te dichten.

AFEV is een Franse organisatie die initiatieven ontplooit waarin ouders met een kansarme sociaal-economische achtergrond centraal staan. Het is een non-profitorganisatie die ouders in kansarme stedelijke gebieden ondersteunt bij de opvoeding. AFEV heeft in heel Frankrijk een netwerk opgezet van 8 000 studenten die zich als vrijwilliger inzetten om ouders tijdelijk privéles geven.

De Arany János-programma's in Hongarije streven ernaar om kansarme leerlingen in het secundair onderwijs te helpen door deze leerlingen bij het afronden van hun opleiding te voorzien van certificering die aantoont dat ze de school hebben afgemaakt, en waarmee ze een universitaire opleiding of een baan kunnen vinden.

ATD Quart Monde is een Franse ngo waarbij mensen zijn betrokken die armoede lijden of hebben geleden. Tot de initiatieven van de organisatie behoren de zogeheten ‘volksuniversiteiten’ (universités populaires) in Frankrijk, die tot doel hebben deskundige kennis te genereren en te vergaren van hun leden – deelnemers die zich bezighouden met diverse vraagstukken, waaronder opvoeding en het beeld dat mensen van scholen kunnen hebben.

Beanstalk, a Children’s Literature Charity in England, was founded in 1973. Working closely with partner schools, they recruit, train and support volunteers to provide reading support for children between ages 3 and 13
The volunteers work one-to-one with children (with each volunteer working with one to three children), coming to the school for three hours each week over the course of a school year. To help build the child’s confidence and create trust, they may read, play and talk with the children. The Beanstalk book box is an important resource with appropriate books and games
Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to work with children for a full school year. Over time, the volunteer and the child build a trusting relationship, and the volunteer is able to learn more about the challenges children experience as they are learning.
The Charity currently reaches approximately 11,000 children across England annually.

UNICEF Serbia and the civil society organisation Centre for Education Policy with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development Republic of Serbia  implemented the project “Combating Early School Leaving in Serbia”.

This project aimed to contribute to decreasing drop-out and early school leaving of children and adolescents through development, establishment, and implementation of the school-based model for early identification of children at risk of dropping out and intervention in situations where dropping-out is taking place.

Combating drop-out and ESL in Serbia has been recognised as a policy priority area.  The Strategy for Education Development in Serbia 2020 (SEDS 2020) calls for the provision of high-quality education for all, an increase of students’ coverage and attainment at all levels of education by maintaining the relevance of education and increasing efficiency. The Strategy implementation is primarily focused on the development of human capital in Serbia, thus underlines importance of the inclusion of pupils from vulnerable and marginalised groups (Roma and children from poor families, children with disabilities and from rural areas etc.).

The Danish Production schools were created in the 1980s with the aim of combating youth unemployment. Production Schools offer alternative education opportunities to improve labour market integration. The fundamental aim of this type of school is to create a practical learning environment to support young people to complete and earn qualifications in general and vocational upper secondary education and/or maintain a job. The students are offered the opportunity to develop professional, social and personal skills through counselling, participation in practical work experience and production in different workshops ranging from areas such as metalwork, carpentry and textile work in theatre, media and music-based workshops. The focus is on social, personal and physical skills which are complemented by more formal knowledge and skills. Learning processes are organised through workshops and classroom teaching, but every young person is free to organise an individual course where they may challenge themselves and build their confidence.
The most significant challenge for production schools is to prepare and motivate “non-academic” students for the ordinary school system. The last legislative change in 2006focused the aims of Production Schools so that its most important task has been to build a bridge to vocational education and training through relevant practical and academic qualifications. In 2009, there were over 6,000 students in production schools. The student capacity at each school can vary from 20-25 to over 200. Generally speaking the schools are small, with half of the schools accepting fewer than 50 students. Today there are 78 Production Schools in Denmark.

The project goal is to provide a comprehensive analysis of best practices for preventing ESL in partner countries in the areas: of ESL monitoring systems; and, methods of counteracting ESL and reintegrating students.

Project partners were from Poland, the UK and Italy. Outputs include a report on ESL monitoring systems, a report on prevention and reintegration methods, and a training pack.

The IKAN project is a project where higher education students of the consortium of Antwerp University and Colleges (AUHA) voluntarily assist Newly Arrived Immigrant (including Refugee) Children with their studies in secondary education. This project aims to respond to the large increase of Newly Arrived Immigrant Children in Flemish education in recent years.

After a maximum of 1 year in reception classes (i.e. OKAN: reception classes for foreign-speaking newcomers), newly arrived immigrant students continue to regular education. This transition is often difficult. Only a small part of the foreign-speaking newcomers who started in OKAN eventually receives a secondary education diploma. With the name IKAN (referring to I Can) the project wants to emphasize that newly arrived immigrant children can have a successful education career, when provided with the right support.