4.7.3.5. Education and orientation

EU+ countries established a range of initiatives to facilitate school enrolment and support the educational attainment of children fleeing the war in Ukraine.672 This included, for example, additional funding for schools, language classes for children and facilitating access to education following the Ukrainian curriculum in parallel through online courses.

For applicant children in the asylum procedure, issues in accessing reception delayed their access to education, for example, in the Netherlands. The Court of The Hague ordered the Dutch State and COA to ensure that children have access to education no later than 3 months from the asylum application. At the beginning of 2022, the government provided municipalities with more stable funding for applicant children’s education, and a new Education Budget Scheme for Asylum Seekers was introduced, allowing municipalities with emergency facilities to claim reimbursement for schooling costs.673

In Luxembourg, as the number of applicant children and children with temporary protection significantly increased, a new school was opened for induction classes.674

The draft of the Second Law for the Introduction of a Right of Opportunity to Stay in Germany proposed to make language and integration courses available for all applicants, regardless of their prospects of staying in the country.675

Among diverse initiatives helping migrants to better orientate in the society, the Hal Far Outreach NGO launched the Malta Migrants Befriending Programme, which pairs applicants and beneficiaries of international protection with locals for leisure activities.676 The programme is funded by the Maltese Voluntary Organisations Projects Scheme.

Following a pilot project, SEM continued to offer Muslim chaplaincy service in federal reception centres. The report evaluating the pilot found that Muslim chaplains were seen as valuable partners in intercultural mediation and their presence contributed to preventing conflictual situations.677

Finally, COA continued collaborating with the National Council on Swimming Security. They launched a new video for residents about the dangers of water and ways to enjoy it safely.678