Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education
This study analyses the overrepresentation of students from a migrant background in special education in the stage of primary education, in the region of El Campo de Gibraltar (Southern Spain). This phenomenon poses significant concerns in terms of educational equity and discrimination, as well as q...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/12/1233 |
| _version_ | 1797381339128791040 |
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| author | Almudena Cotán Manuel de-Besa Aurora Mª Ruiz-Bejarano Margarita Ossorio-Núñez |
| author_facet | Almudena Cotán Manuel de-Besa Aurora Mª Ruiz-Bejarano Margarita Ossorio-Núñez |
| author_sort | Almudena Cotán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyses the overrepresentation of students from a migrant background in special education in the stage of primary education, in the region of El Campo de Gibraltar (Southern Spain). This phenomenon poses significant concerns in terms of educational equity and discrimination, as well as questions about the possible underlying causes. It was decided to address this issue from a qualitative methodology through semi-structured interviews with 16 educators of educational centres that have a significant number of students from a migrant background. The results show the need of educators for specific training in attention to diversity. Likewise, many migrant families come to Spain due to the lack of adequate attention that their children receive in their home countries. Lastly, language and cultural barriers were identified, which allow for biased assessments and subjective decisions that result in the referral of students from a migrant background to special education from a multidimensional perspective. Therefore, it is fundamental to provide training to professionals, overcome the language and cultural barriers and ensure that the necessary resources are available, thus guaranteeing an inclusive and equitable education for all students, regardless of their origin. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:50:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6952635b41d460d9c0efbd3ad59641e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:50:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6952635b41d460d9c0efbd3ad59641e2023-12-22T14:04:34ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022023-12-011312123310.3390/educsci13121233Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable EducationAlmudena Cotán0Manuel de-Besa1Aurora Mª Ruiz-Bejarano2Margarita Ossorio-Núñez3Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Education Sciences, Psychology and Sport Sciences, Universidad de Huelva, 21004 Huelva, SpainDepartment of Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainDepartment of Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainDepartment of General Economics, Faculty of Law, University of Cádiz, 11406 Jerez de la Frontera, SpainThis study analyses the overrepresentation of students from a migrant background in special education in the stage of primary education, in the region of El Campo de Gibraltar (Southern Spain). This phenomenon poses significant concerns in terms of educational equity and discrimination, as well as questions about the possible underlying causes. It was decided to address this issue from a qualitative methodology through semi-structured interviews with 16 educators of educational centres that have a significant number of students from a migrant background. The results show the need of educators for specific training in attention to diversity. Likewise, many migrant families come to Spain due to the lack of adequate attention that their children receive in their home countries. Lastly, language and cultural barriers were identified, which allow for biased assessments and subjective decisions that result in the referral of students from a migrant background to special education from a multidimensional perspective. Therefore, it is fundamental to provide training to professionals, overcome the language and cultural barriers and ensure that the necessary resources are available, thus guaranteeing an inclusive and equitable education for all students, regardless of their origin.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/12/1233overrepresentationstudents from a migrant backgroundspecial educationdiversityinclusive education |
| spellingShingle | Almudena Cotán Manuel de-Besa Aurora Mª Ruiz-Bejarano Margarita Ossorio-Núñez Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education Education Sciences overrepresentation students from a migrant background special education diversity inclusive education |
| title | Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education |
| title_full | Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education |
| title_fullStr | Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education |
| title_short | Overrepresentation of Students from a Migrant Background in Special Education: Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Education |
| title_sort | overrepresentation of students from a migrant background in special education promoting inclusive and equitable education |
| topic | overrepresentation students from a migrant background special education diversity inclusive education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/12/1233 |
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