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.European Union Agency for Asylum. (2022). Who is Who - Temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine. https://whoiswho.euaa.europa.eu/temporary-protection; European Migration Network. (November 2022). Access to services for beneficiaries of temporary protection. EMN Inform. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-11/EMN_INFORM_servi… 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.Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers. (2022, March 15). OHBA-regeling voor gemeenten geactualiseerd [OHBA scheme updated for municipalities]. https://www.coa.nl/nl/nieuws/ohba-regeling-voor-gemeenten-geactualiseerd
In Luxembourg, as the number of applicant children and children with temporary protection significantly increased, a new school was opened for induction classes.National Reception Office | Office national de l'accueil. (2022, September 26). Une nouvelle école hébergeant des classes d'accueil de l'État ouvre au Kirchberg [A new school for induction classes opens in Kirchberg]. https://ona.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualite…
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.Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Community | Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat. (2022, October 19). Bundesinnenministerin Faeser: Erster Schritt für einen Neustart in der Migrationspolitik [Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser: First step for a new start in migration policy]. https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/kurzmeldungen/DE/2022/10/chancen-auf…
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.European Website on Integration. (2022, April 9). Malta: New befriending programme promotes integration. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/malta-new-befriending-pro… 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.State Secretariat for Migration | Staatssekretariat für Migration | Secrétariat d’État aux migrations | Segreteria di Stato della migrazione. (2022, January 31). Le SEM poursuit son service d’aumônerie musulmane dans les centres fédéraux d’asile [The SEM continues its Muslim chaplaincy service in federal asylum centres]. https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/fr/home/sem/medien/mm.msg-id-86982.html
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.Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers. (2022, July 18). Nieuwe film over zwemveiligheid gelanceerd [New film on safety while swimming launched]. https://www.coa.nl/nl/nieuws/nieuwe-film-over-zwemveiligheid-gelanceerd
