To read this content please select one of the options below:

Dreams Not Crushed, Just a Little Wrinkled: Navigating a Disrupted Education

Maria Pedavoli (Sydney Catholic Schools, Australia)

War, Mobility, Displacement and Their Impact on Higher Education

ISBN: 978-1-80455-435-7, eISBN: 978-1-80455-434-0

Publication date: 22 July 2024

Abstract

Schools increasingly acknowledge their role in aiding refugee youth integration and inclusivity. Yet, schools often lack readiness in addressing diverse challenges faced by displacement. Navigating new languages and educational systems presents formidable barriers to educational advancement for many young refugees. Many refugee students arrive with limited, interrupted, or disrupted formal education; literacy challenges compounded by trauma from displacement. Despite recognizing the need for inclusive learning environments, schools struggle to implement effective interventions for students with such diverse backgrounds and education. This paper explores the challenges faced by one school and its students, emphasizing the need for flexibility, support, and understanding from both the school and the broader community to overcome obstacles and reclaim student’s ambitions and childhood dreams. Intensive Language Centers (ILC) and classroom support are pivotal in developing English skills, yet some efforts lack efficacy. Success hinges on a holistic approach, encompassing trauma, familial dynamics, socialization, and cultural integration. Such measures are imperative for refugee students to thrive in Australian schools and pursue higher education. The research highlights the importance of a holistic approach, addressing academic, language, cultural, trauma, and resettlement challenges. Recognizing and accommodating these layers essential for fostering an environment where refugee students can successfully adapt and thrive in higher education.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the students and support staff who bravely shared their stories of trauma and success. Their invaluable contributions have enriched this writing, providing a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of Iraqi and Syrian refugee students in the Australian educational system. This writing is a direct result of a school’s monitored observations and proactive response to the needs of these students. All students interviewed have pursued their goal of attaining higher education through hard work, diligence, and perseverance. They are to be commended and congratulated for their efforts.

Citation

Pedavoli, M. (2024), "Dreams Not Crushed, Just a Little Wrinkled: Navigating a Disrupted Education", Sengupta, E. (Ed.) War, Mobility, Displacement and Their Impact on Higher Education (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 55), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 63-83. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120240000055005

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited