Migrant children's right to education: Education policy stages of the European Union

Abstract

This research article has two objectives: (1) to analyse how the right to education of immigrant children has evolved in the European Union (EU) from 1957 until 2023; and (2) to identify the factors that have led to changes in European education policies with respect to migrant children. A documentary analysis of a total of 822 European policies was carried out, resulting in a qualitative analysis of 136 policies using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2022 software. These results reveal five stages in EU education policy on immigrant children’s right to education: (1) Rights of migrant workers and their families (1957-1984); (2) Integration of vulnerable groups in Europe (1984-2006); (3) European citizenship as a migration horizon (2006-2015); (4) Socio-educational dilemmas surrounding refugees (2015-2020); and (5) Movement toward a resilient, but selective European Union (2020-present). In conclusion, historical events and the socio-political context of each era have significantly shaped the design of European policies. Moreover, a double discourse about immigration exists in the EU. While the EU is favourable to receiving highly qualified personnel through legal migration, t it is reluctant to integrate irregular young migrants into its member states.