The Education of Migrant Children: Problems and Prospects

The education of migrant workers' children remains a difficult question of paramount importance within the countries of Western Europe. Paradoxically, it may even be said that one of the main points which all these European countries have in common is that they are increasingly "multicultural" societies within which, as a result of substantial migration since the beginning of the century, different cultural communities and forms of cultural expression now exist side by side. This situation gives rise to major problems, which are further complicated today by the widespread and growing demand for recognition of cultural identities and by the appearance of some xenophobic reactions to the world economic crisis and rising unemployment. Most Western European countries stopped admitting new immigrant workers some years ago. Obviously, there were ethical as well as political reasons for not expelling the tens of millions who had already settled.