Inclusion of Migrant and Refugee Children in the Education System: Exploring and Overcoming Language and Social Boundaries in the Una-Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has become strongly affected by migrants from the Global South who aim to migrate into the EU. However, due to the strengthening of the external EU border, migrants increasingly remain in B&H for a longer period making it a receiving country for migrants, 20% of whom are estimated to be children. Since education is a fundamental human right and the inclusion of migrant children in the education system of B&H was essential for their healthy psychophysical development, the Una-Sana Canton initiated activities for their inclusion in the spring of 2019. In this paper, we detail the activities of professors and students of the Pedagogical Faculty of the University of Bihać who taught Bosnian as a foreign language to the migrant children which was a basic prerequisite for their inclusion in the regular teaching process. The role of local students in facilitating inclusion of migrant children became especially evident. In addition to emphasizing the value of collaborative learning between teachers, local children and migrant children, this paper also explores psychological, cultural and social boundaries and barriers that shaped the process of language acquisition, inclusive education, and collaborative teaching and learning.