New publication: EDUMIGROM publishes a new comparative paper

December 30, 2010

Ethnic and Social Differences in Education in a Comparative Perspective - EDUMIGROM publishes its comparative survey study by Julia Szalai, Vera Messing and Maria Nemenyi.

Eight target countries of the EDUMIGROM research completed survey reports, based on country datasets. A comparative dataset was produced and based on this the comparative study was prepared. The comparative endeavour found that the notion of “compulsory education for all” is more an ideal than a reality. Sizeable groups of children seem not to receive even primary education; other groups formally complete compulsory schooling but do not get hold of basic competences enabling them to continue education or step into the labour market. The survey demonstrates the wide range of mechanisms that lead to sorting and separating children of various ethnic and social background between or within schools, but these, in most cases work to the detriment of minority groups. Ethnic separation in education is just partially a by-product of the given residential conditions: spontaneous processes of “white flight”, local educational policies aiming at raising efficiency through inter- and intra-school streaming, and minority ethnic parents’ attempts at protecting children from discrimination and “othering” also contribute to the process. Segregation then becomes a key component of producing and reproducing inequalities of educational and labour market opportunities. 

Ethnic and Social Differences in Education in a Comparative Perspective (Download)

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