The Education of Recently Arrived Refugees in Germany: Conditions, Processes, and Outcomes

Abstract

Around the world, the number of refugees is at a record high. Although most forciblydisplaced persons seek refuge within their home country or in a neighboringstate (UNHCR, 2020), a large number of refugees have reached Europe in recentyears, and many of them have settled in Germany (Eurostat, 2020).1As many refugees were children and adolescents when they arrived in Germany(Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), their successfulincorporation into the educational system is of great relevance. This includes,above all, the acquisition of fundamental skills and competences as well asthe eventual completion of educational qualifi cations. In the adult refugee population,most individuals are also quite young (Spörlein, Kristen, Schmidt, & Welker,2020). To succeed in the labor market, many of them need to acquire further skillsand competences as well as educational qualifi cations by, for example, taking languageclasses or attending training tailored to the requirements and the structureof the German labor market. The successful educational integration of recently arrivedrefugees at various stages in their life course is of paramount importance forthem and for their receiving society alike.