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Confronting the challenge of immigrant and refugee student underachievement: Policies and practices from Canada, New Zealand and the European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Bilgili, Özge

    (Utrecht University)

  • Volante, Louis

    (UNU-MERIT, and Brock University)

  • Klinger, Don A.

    (University of Waikato)

  • Siegel, Melissa

    (UNU-MERIT, and SBE, Maastricht University)

Abstract

Immigrant and refugee students consistently demonstrate a performance disadvantage when one considers their achievement against non-immigrant students. This paper examines the double- and triple-disadvantages that characterise immigrant and refugee student groups. To highlight the different levels of adversity they face, not only to socioeconomic background characteristics but also migration trajectory related factors are mentioned. Next, the paper synthesises trends from policies and practices associated with more favourable student outcomes. Concrete examples are discussed from the cases of Canada, New Zealand and the European Union. Finally, implications for policymakers, educational leaders, and schools are discussed. The paper concludes with a critical view on simply policy borrowing and calls for contextually and culturally responsive adaptation of promising policies and the implementation of new policies that effectively engage communities and enhance the skills of educators.

Suggested Citation

  • Bilgili, Özge & Volante, Louis & Klinger, Don A. & Siegel, Melissa, 2019. "Confronting the challenge of immigrant and refugee student underachievement: Policies and practices from Canada, New Zealand and the European Union," MERIT Working Papers 2019-048, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2019048
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    File URL: https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2019/wp2019-048.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Özge Bilgili, 2017. "The “CHARM” Policy Analysis Framework: Evaluation of Policies to Promote Immigrant Students’ Resilience," OECD Education Working Papers 158, OECD Publishing.
    4. David Law & Murat Genç & John Bryant, 2013. "Trade, Diaspora and Migration to New Zealand," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(5), pages 582-606, May.
    5. Oecd, 2011. "How Are School Systems Adapting to Increasing Numbers of Immigrant Students?," PISA in Focus 11, OECD Publishing.
    6. Oecd, 2017. "How much of a problem is bullying at school?," PISA in Focus 74, OECD Publishing.
    7. Ndubuisi, Gideon & Konte, Maty, 2019. "Credit constraints and trade performance: Does trust-based social capital matter?," MERIT Working Papers 2019-046, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    8. Oecd, 2012. "How Do Immigrant Students Fare in Disadvantaged Schools?," PISA in Focus 22, OECD Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Moro, Alessio & Valdes, Carlo, 2019. "Stuctural transformation in general equilibrium," MERIT Working Papers 2019-049, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    2. Nomaler, Onder & Verspagen, Bart, 2019. "Greentech homophily and path dependence in a large patent citation network," MERIT Working Papers 2019-051, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education Policy; Student Achievement; Immigrant Students; Human Development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy
    • Z19 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Other

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