Vocational Training of Young Migrants in the United Kingdom
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T RESUME 376702 CE 054 345 AUTHOR Cross, Malcolm, Vocational Training of Young Migrants in the United Kingdom. INSTITUTION Europaan Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Berlin (West Germany). REPORT NO ISBN-92-825-6126-7 PUB DATE 86 NOTE 158p.; For related documents, see CE 054 340-344. AVAILABLE FROM UN/PUB, 4661-F Assembly Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391 (Catalogue No. M-45-85-050-EN-C, $4.00). PUB TYPE Reports - Research/Technical (143) -- Reference Materials - Bibliographies (131) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Access to Education; Dropout Characteristics; Dropouts; *Education Work Relationship; Elementary Secondary Education; *Employment Problems; Family Influence; Family Status; *Job Training; Migrant Children; Migrant Employment; Migrants; *Migrant Youth; Minority Groups; Multicultural Education; Second Language Instruction; Student Mobility; *Vocational Education IDENTIFIERS *United Kingdom ABSTRACT This study looked at the Jverall situation of the immigrant populationand young immigrants in particular, and analyzed such problem areas ae. thn transition from school to working life and the inadequacies of initial training with relation to the situation in the United Kingdom. The study identified the following problem areas: (1) problems relating to the education of children of migrant workers and, (2) problems concerning access to vocational 44 training and the links between success at school, success in vocational training, success in employment, and access to the labor market. Analysis of the data suggested sume conclusions, among them: (1) the question of vocational training for ethnic minorities and migrant young people cannot be separated from an understanding of the position these groups have come to occupy in British society; (2) contrary to many assumptions, these young people are highly motivated and at least as able as those to whom they can be reasonably compared; (3) these youths represent a demand for high quality skill training that is currently unmet; and (4) although a transformation will not occur through training itself, substantial improvements in access and availability will greatly enhance the possibility of equal opportunity in employment. (Includes a 27-page bibliography of over 400 references.) (KC) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** ce4 416 ;IQ Vocational trainingof young migrants 8in the United Kingdom 0 U1111 LIJ URI European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS Office of Educational Research and Improvement MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY ED ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or orgenitalion originating it O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality e Points of view or opinions stated in this docu. ment do not necessarily represent nib:lei TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OERI position or policy INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." c.; BEST COPYAVAILABLE ..7?5 :71 TV: `':sP.rg..5,or,c'i:..!7-F -.,.: . 44; ."0(4lI;k411810- ...,0B ;_ "....47si::::)=..,, .,;..... '4 .. ,f NI. 1, . i .sf,A,,,,X1k:)....i..,..41r,,,,i:1,%-slIr. yc ,; t '.- ..";;Tt,V.rv. :7,...'.;".",..-;V!'s- .:r1'.;f37'1..)17:ti:;-P :r..,..,:t/...1,.;4*.....1::*1.:'1'47:-.. -.-. , \ : . '...:::,1:1.:, ''..1 Vocational training ofyoung migrants in the United Kingdom This study was drawnup by Malcolm Cross First edition., Berlin 1986 Published by: CEDEFOP-- European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Bundesallee 22, D10013 Berlin 15 Tel. (0 30) 88 41 20 Telex 184163 eucen d The Centre was establishedby Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of the Council of the EuropeanCommunities DE ISBN 92.825.6125.9 FR ISBN 92-825-6127.5 IT ISBN 92.825.6128.3 Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1986 ISBN: 92-825-61267 Catalogue number: HX-45-85-050-EN-C Articles and texts appearing in this document may be reproduced freely in whole or in part providing their source is mentioned. Printed In the FR of Germany 04,44"7., Twe, This study was drawn up by Malcolm Cross on behalf of CEDEFOP- European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Berlin1985 ,sit>ge This study was undertakenjointly by the Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations (University of Warwick,Coventry, U.K.) Project coordinator : Duccio Guerra This is the second studyto be undertakenas part of a, project on "THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING OFYOUNG MIGRANTS IN BELGIUM,FRANCE, THE UNITED KINGDOM, DENMARKAND LUXEMBOURG". It includes the latestand most relevant documentationand statistical data on this subject. This study which looks atthe overall situation of theimmigrant population, and young immigrantsin particular, analysessuch problem areas as the transitionfrom school to working lifeand the inadequacies of initialtraining with relation to thevoca- tional training, employmentand unemployment situation. Published by : European Centre for the Developmentof Vocational Training, Bundesallee 22, D-1000 Berlin 15, tel. : (030)884 12-0 A The Centre was established byRegulation (EEC) N° 337/75of the Council of the EuropeanCommunities. All the monographiesare available in the following languages FRANCE (DE. EN, FR, IT) : BELGIUM (DE, EN, FR, IT) LUXEMBOURG (DE, EN, FR, IT) UNITED KINGDOM (DE, EN, FR, IT) DENMARK (DA, DE, EN, FR) The synthesis reports foreach of the countriesare available in DA, DE, EN, FR, IT, NL. Reproduction in wholeor in part of the contents of this publication is authorized, providedthe source is acknowledged. The views expressed by theauthors du not necessarily reflect those of CEDEFOP. INTRODUCTION Young people of foreign origin, second generationyoungsters, young immigrants: the Caversityof terms thatcan be used is indicative of theproblems of defining suchcomplex and varied realities whichare so dependent on social,historical, environmental, emotionaland conjuncturalfactors that they cannot be explained bymacrosocial analysis. We should first state our conviction that there is no suchthing as "young immigrants", or at leastnot in the sense ofa clearly definable, homogeneousgrouping, a factor whichimposes inevitable limitson a study which, likeours, aims at under- standing an extremely complex and diversifiedsituation. These youngstersconstitute a fairlyconsistent notional population within theEuropean Community. Little is known a7..>out then: their positionin the environment ofschool, to..aining and employment, their aspirations andtheir problems. There are few statistics in any country and whatinformation is available is eitherat such an aggregatelevel as to be of little value or else so localized that itcannot be used as a basis for generalizations. Yet knowledge of the problemis a prerequisite forany attempt to seek a solution. In the light of theseconsiderations, CEDEFOPembarked on a joint primary research project with the BerlinBundesinstitut fur Berufsbildung (BIBB) on the situationof young migrantsin the Federal Republic of Germany. For anyone wishing toThin a greater insight into thesituation, as far aswe are aware, this is still theonly material availablefor the Federal Republic as a whole. The research findingsencouraged CEDEFOP to undertake secondary investigations to determinehow much was known about the problemin other host countrieswithin the Community: Belgium,Denmark, France, Luxembourgand the United Kingdom. This report formspart of a series ofmonographs which are the productof this secondaryresearch. 01.1.0, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS Even though the national monographs are toospecific for any comparisons or aggregation, it issurprising to find that they do all point to very similar, if notidentical, problem areas. - Problems relating to the education of children of migrant workers; - Problems concerning access to vocational training and the links between - success at school - success in vocational training - success in employment - access to the labour market. An analysis of the monographs confirms the existence of close links between the various problem zones, converging to a central point which could be termed the "level of cultural, social and vocational integration". From a scientific point of view, it would be wrong to attempt a comparison of these problem zones on the oasis of the monographs, as these are solely the product of an intelligent review of existing documents and other data (identified, collected and collated, from many different sources and with some considerable effort). Accordingly, we consider it expedient to give the readers of these monographs a number of "general impressions" we have obtained from a review of all the monographs. THE FAMILY AND THE SCHOOL Family composition (e.g. a mixed marriage between a national and a non-national) and, more important, its socio-cultural category play a significant part in a young person's school career and academic success there. At least until the end of a youngster's education and training, the family remains not only a "sanctuary" but also the dominant cultural and behavioural influence. The dominant butnot the onlyinfluence, for the youngster will, fromhis earlysocialization in the school environment, be constantlytrying to reconcilethe different cultural models offeredby the family andthe host society. In this process