Area of activity: education
The nationwide integration programme has been involved above all with parents and teachers to support existing processes designed to strengthen the educational success of children and young people from immigrant families.
The current priorities of the nationwide integration programme in the area of education and integration are:
- parents with an immigrant background: strengthening skills in education and raising a family, supporting work with educational institutions;
- recruiting teachers and trainee teachers from an immigrant background.
Parents with an immigrant background
Educational and integration opportunities are not dependent solely on the education system and the programmes of individual support but are also markedly characterised by the knowledge and support of parents.
So that cooperation and communication can occur successfully,
- reservations must be broken down on both sides
- access to the education system must be made easier for parents with an immigrant background
- programmes and education institutions must be open to all cultures.
Openness and mutual respect
It is crucial for all participants to be on equal terms to achieve a successful partnership in education. Openness, mutual appreciation, respect and participation are important to work together effectively and to achieve successful educational careers.
Parents' associations have an important role to play as partners for dialogue, bridge-builders, multipliers and education mentors. Associations of parents with an immigrant background display a high level of commitment and have built up important know-how in this area. In order to reach parents with an immigrant background and to encourage them to promote their children's success at school, they are increasingly approached by institutions of education.
Against this backdrop, and in conjunction with many experts, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees produced recommendations and published these in the autumn of 2010.
Teachers with an immigrant background – skills and challenges
Teachers with an immigrant background are seen as examples of successful integration and are trailblazers of intercultural openness at school and in lessons. Throughout Germany, the proportion of teachers who do not have German nationality is currently only approximately one to two per cent. To improve this situation and as part of the nationwide integration programme, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees together with a network of various experts has developed many practice-based recommendations to increase the proportion of teachers with an immigrant background and introduced implementation phases.
