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Union calls for better support for migrant pupils |
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Friday, 21 December 2007 |
The Educational Institute of Scotland today called on the Government and local authorities to provide better support for the children of migrant workers in Scottish schools.
The union said that teachers across the country had been raising
concerns over the lack of specialist support and professional
development available in schools to assist children who do not speak
English as their first language.
It said that this was placing a huge strain on schools and teachers,
and also impacting on the learning and teaching process for both pupils
from migrant families and their English-speaking classmates.
EIS General Secretary Ronnie Smith said: "Scotland is a diverse and
multi-cultural society and is increasingly becoming home to workers and
their families from across Europe and beyond. We warmly welcome these
families who, in addition to adding to our rich cultural mix, also
continue to bring many skills which are essential to our country and
its economy.
"However, as welcome as these families are, we have to recognise that
schools and teachers are being placed under additional pressure as a
result of the increase in economic migration. We want to see the best
educational experience provided for all pupils, both those who are
native to Scotland and those who have moved here from other countries.
The huge increase in pupils who are new to English is placing an
ever-increasing strain on our schools and our teachers.
"The Government and all local authorities must take urgent action to
provide the additional resources, professional development and the
support of sufficient numbers of specialist English as An Additional
Language (EAL) teachers that our schools desperately need."
Smith emphasised that this was a problem for the whole of Scotland, not
just the central belt. "This is an issue in smaller rural schools as
well as in schools in more urban areas. In many areas, even where
specialist EAL support is available, the resources are being spread far
too thin with only a very limited number of specialist EAL teachers
expected to support hundreds of pupils, with very different needs,
across dozens of schools. In addition to placing great strain on the
EAL specialists, this also places additional burdens on class teachers
to ‘plug the gap’ in areas of education in which they have not received
adequate professional development.
"This can clearly have a knock-on effect on the educational experience
for both the pupils from migrant families, who do not receive the
specialist support they need, and also the rest of the class who can
lose out on time with the teacher as a result."
Smith added: "This is a very real problem for our schools, and it will
require a concerted effort from both national and local government if
it is to be overcome. As the Government continue to encourage skilled
workers to relocate to Scotland, they must meet their obligations to
their families and put in place the resources to support the education
of their children.
"It is now time for our elected representatives to deliver."
No one has commented on this article.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 21 December 2007 )
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