Teaching the learners with a migrant background – teachers’ perspectives

Abstract

As a result of the growing number of migrants in Poland, schools accept increasing numbers of learners with a migrant background (immigrants and reimmigrants), and they are not always able to successfully help the newcomers in their integration. Therefore, it is necessary to undertake specific support activities. Related shortcomings result in many school failures among many migrants, their dropping out of schools and as a result gaining little if any qualifications. At the same time, the researchers indicated the role of teachers in the education of children with a migrant background. The level of their training and the quality of the support they can offer determines the success or lack thereof of their pupils.
 In the article the researchers discussed a study (Stage 2 in particular) the purpose of which was to diagnose and analyse the needs of the education community in terms of migrant education and integration. The following question was the starting point: What do schools need to be able to better teach and integrate learners with a migrant background? The study of needs organised as a focus group gathered teachers teaching pupils with a migrant background with various levels of training, and a headmaster of a school attended by migrants. The analysis of the collected material indicated three areas where teachers need particular support: systemic organisation of accepting and educating learners with a migrant background, access to materials, and the ability to participate in additional training courses and acquire new competences.