Education and Integration

Here, three different methods of educational integration are explored in relation to German policy and best practice. The chapter opens with a brief overview of the conceptualizations of integration prevalent in German media, policy, and social debate, questioning their adequacy. Mainstream, official, and highly structural understandings of integration are contrasted with the perspectives of refugees and migrants, who tend to describe integration in terms of achieving a “sense of belonging.” Next, three relevant models of educational integration policy are explained: the parallel model, based on the provision of alternative classes; the integrative model, which includes both extra language support and participation in regular classes; and the submersive model, where students simply enter national schooling without adjustments. Drawing on practice narratives from part one and their associated interviews, the authors compare differences between educational systems, finding common factors that allow for successful integration. They also argue for a greater incorporation of refugee perspectives when creating integration policy, to ensure it is fit for purpose. While the findings of this study are framed in terms of their relevance to German national integration policy following the 2022 influx of Ukrainian refugees, the authors’ conclusions have a much broader scope of application.