Schlicht-Schmälzle & Möller: Inequality in Education Between Migrants and Natives

Using the data from the 2006 PISA study and national integration policy indicators provided by the „European Civic Citizenship and Inclusion Index”, we have to conclude that EU standards of good practice in integration policy are hitherto ineffective in equalizing inequality between natives and migrants in education. None of the integration policy indicators could be confirmed to mitigate migrant inequality in education in the Western EU. One reason for the lacking integration policy effects may be that these policies are not directly targeted at the school education process but rather at later curricular stages. However, also the examined education policies are barely relevant for the degree of migrant inequality in the EU. The EU standards of good practice in integration policy do thus neither provide a more inclusive and supportive embedding in the education system nor do they establish incentives for immigrants for a stronger integration via the education system. It can be argued that newly implemented integration policies need more time to seriously affect societal outcomes. Nevertheless, so far we cannot confirm the effectiveness of EU standards of good practice in integration policy with regard to equal opportunities between migrants and natives in the education system.
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