Suárez Calls for Enhanced Coordination and Better Educational Opportunities for Migrant Minors

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Minister of Education for the Government of the Canary Islands, Poli Suárez, called on Friday to enhance the coordination protocols between his department and that of Social Welfare to further improve the education of unaccompanied migrant children while avoiding “overloading” the island’s educational institutions.

In reply to an inquiry from the Nationalist Group in the parliamentary committee, he remarked that “progress is being made” and that we are on the “right track,” also emphasising the “lesson of solidarity and humanity” that the educational centres impart in adapting to this situation.

Suárez reiterated his estimate that roughly 2,400 migrant children are currently in education in the archipelago, which is less than half of those under guardianship; the majority are in ESO and Basic Vocational Training, representing about 1% of total enrolment.

He pointed out that efforts need to be centralised to educate students with “careful planning and systematic attention,” as the “overload” in the reception network is causing “increased challenges” in achieving the genuine integration of minors.

“The administration cannot ignore them,” he stated, while advocating for a “national agreement” concerning migrant minors that removes this reception from “party political strife.”

Jonathan Fumero, of the Nationalist Group, remarked that following the “immediate response” provided to the minors to tackle the “emergency” brought by their arrival in the archipelago, it is essential to “plan for management and integration,” necessitating a “coordinated effort” between ministries.

He acknowledged that the education of migrant minors poses “challenges” due to the “non-recognition” of qualifications from many countries of origin, the “standards” of students in relation to their year of study are not assured, as they are grouped by age, and additionally, some had not even received an education in their home countries.

In this context, he urged for “intensified efforts in the centres,” particularly in relation to Spanish language acquisition, which is “crucial” for effective integration.

Just as the councillor has called for the establishment of a national agreement on migrant minors to ensure that this phenomenon is “removed” from “political and media discourse,” he also highlighted the “commendable” efforts of the centres and students, who exemplify “lessons” in the reception of minors, as behind the statistics “there are faces and stories.”

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