Asylum-Seeking Children To Get Equal Access To Education

Charities and campaign groups have hailed plans to give children of asylum-seeking families the same access to education as Scottish children. Under plans announced by the Scottish Executive, young children of such families will also be given nursery places in line with recommendations from HM Inspectorate of Education.

From this autumn, asylum-seeking children who have spent at least three years in Scottish schools will be given the same access as Scottish children to full-time further and higher education, education secretary Fiona Hyslop said.

Of the 1,400 asylum families in Scotland, most are based in Glasgow. However, according to Sue Fisher, programme director for protection at Save the Children Scotland: “Only half of asylum-seeking under-fives are accessing nursery places in Glasgow.”
Tam Baillie, assistant director of policy at Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “The children of asylum-seeking families have the same welfare and education needs as other children.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Refugee Council added: “We are pleased the executive has affirmed its support of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises that a child is a child no matter what their immigration status.

“The UK Government has registered a reservation to the convention with regards to children in cases of asylum and immigration. We would call on the UK Government to withdraw its reservation.” Children’s rights campaigners have criticised the UK Government for treating the children of asylum seekers as “separate and inferior”