Zorica Mršević, Svetlana Janković 2023. EDUCATION OF MIGRANT AND REFUGEE CHILDREN IN SERBIA AS PROTECTION FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. 7-8.
In: ARCHIBALD REISS DAYS ”BOOK OF ABSTRACTS”.
Ed: Bodrožić I. Belgrade: University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies.
ISBN 978-86-7020-511-3
ISBN 978-86-7020-190-3
Purpose: Analysis of the position of migrant and refugee children in Serbia as members of a marginalized group, which might be, without governmental efforts, almost completely excluded from the entire social environment and education, on top of which is systematically exposed to violence by other migrants, smugglers, and the police. About 10 percent of them are unaccompanied children. On the so-called Balkan route, they travel to Western Europe for an average of four and a half years, not knowing the local languages; many of them do not even know any other language than their mother tongue. During that period, many remain “stranded”, unable to continue their journey between strictly guarded borders, run out of money, and become particularly vulnerable to violence and a range of group criminal activities and actions by individuals.
Design/Methods/Approach: The used data are collected by desk research of academic texts, research findings, reports of international and local humanitarian organizations, legal provisions, administration, and media in Serbian and English. These referred to the situation from the closure of the Balkan route at the beginning of 2016 until the present. By engaging educational institutions in Serbia in 2016, 98% of children from the migrant population were included in the education system. Inclusion in the education system may represent a solid barrier to further victimization of migrant and refugee children, and what is important is that what they learn here will be of practical use wherever they go.
Findings: It is pointed out that migrant and refugee children have the same right to education as any other child in the world. Although education is a basic human right, migrant children and asylum seekers during the refugee journey still face obstacles in accessing any education due to language barriers and ethnic differences, unresolved legal status, experience of wars, cumulative stress and trauma, and a lack of social adaptation.
Originality/Value: Bearing in mind that children and adolescents have the right to equal access to quality, inclusive learning opportunities, the conclusion is that governments must increase efforts to enroll migrant children in regular schools, including improving school capacity and providing language/social support to children and their guardians. It is also necessary to strengthen the child protection system in order to prevent all forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse.
Keywords: migrant children, violence, cumulative stress, schooling, opportunities for inclusive learning, language support.
PRILOG
EDUCATION OF MIGRANT AND REFUGEE CHILDREN IN SERBIA AS PROTECTION FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES