The School Integration Programme aims to support refugee and migrant families in schools, to raise awareness of refugee and migrant issues in schools and to support teachers and schools in the education of international students.

An increasingly diverse Ireland presents new opportunities and challenges for schools which themselves have become increasingly diverse. Schools are an ideal starting point for promoting integration, as they allow parents and children who are new to Ireland to meet other parents living nearby and real communication and friendships can develop.

The School Programme has developed resources and activities designed to support teachers and parents.

Teachers

What can JRS Community Links can do for your school?

Information Sessions for Teachers

A series of information seminars and workshops is being developed by the Community Links School Integration Programme. The aim of these information sessions is to support teachers, principals and other school personnel in meeting the challenges of working in an ethnically and culturally diverse school environment.

The first of these information sessions took place in November 2007 and addressed the topic of 'Immigration, Rights and Entitlements'. The next information session will take place on Thursday 28th February 2008 (click for invitation) and covers the theme of 'Intercultural Education in the Primary School'. Future sessions planned for 2008 include Training for Language Support Teachers and Cultural Awareness/Anti-Racism training.

School Resource Folder

The school resource folder was developed in consultation with schools in the inner city in response to increased diversity in schools in the area. The purpose of the folder is to provide a practical resource for teachers of refugee and migrant children. Access the School Resource Folder.

Intercultural and Interfaith Calendar

The calendar is aimed at raising awareness of diversity in Ireland, and each month it highlights religious feast days from different faiths, national days, international UN celebrations and bank holidays in the Republic of Ireland.

Resource Library

Please contact Community Links to access a library of resources of interest to people and organisations working with migrants and ethnic minorities. A section has been developed for the School Programme containing details of resources for the classroom and information on ethnicity and education.

If you are interested in any of the above activities please contact Caroline Fahey, School Integration Project Officer.

Parents

What can JRS Community Links do for you?

Workshops for Parents

Seminars/Workshops for parents will begin in March 2008. Topics covered are likely to include: information about the Irish educational system, information on the child’s learning in primary school, becoming involved in your child’s school and managing the transition from primary to secondary school. If there are any other issues which you would like to see addressed in the workshops please feel free to give us a call.

Information on the Irish Educational System

We are in the process of compiling information on the Irish educational system and putting it together in an accessible format, to be translated into a number of languages. This information will include the structure of the educational system in Ireland, information on mainstream and alternative education, and the routes of progression.

The following information can be downloaded from the Resource Centre: a List of primary and post primary schools in Dublin’s Inner City.

Language Support

JRS Ireland provides a range of one-to-one English language support classes that are open to interested parents of migrant children
If you are interested in any of the above activities, please contact Caroline Fahey, School Integration Project Officer.