North Rhine-Westphalia: Association: Many refugee children cannot go to school

Wuppertal (dpa/lnw) - Shortly before the end of the holidays, the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband criticized the fact that school did not start again for all school-age children and young people in North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday: namely for the refugees housed in the state institutions.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Association: Many refugee children cannot go to school

Wuppertal (dpa/lnw) - Shortly before the end of the holidays, the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband criticized the fact that school did not start again for all school-age children and young people in North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday: namely for the refugees housed in the state institutions. These fell "down the back, they are systematically denied educational opportunities in schools and daycare centers," said the state manager of the parity NRW, Christian Woltering, on Monday.

According to the NRW school law, schooling for refugee children is only compulsory once they have been assigned to a municipality. If they are still housed in a reception facility, they fall through the cracks. The parity referred to figures from almost a year ago: At that time, this applied to around 3,100 minors, around a fifth of them had been in such a facility for more than three months. The countries are actually obliged to enable classes no later than three months after the start of the asylum procedure, said Carmen Martinez, an expert on migration and flight at Paritätisches.

"School-related educational offers" are planned in the facilities, she said. In some cases, however, these do not take place at all, while elsewhere there are a few hours a week. This is not the same as proper training.

Woltering praised the uncomplicated help for refugee children and young people from Ukraine, which the state government arranged in April 2022. This has been demanded for refugees for decades, he said. "But for everyone, regardless of their country of origin."

In the coalition agreement of the black-green state government, quick decentralized accommodation in the municipalities is promised. Families with children, among others, are to be assigned to the communities after three months.