Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 30, Issue 4, 2004, Pages 233-239

School problems among immigrant students (Article)

Pacchin M. , Accomando S. , Salvioli G.P. , Cataldo F.* , Musumeci S. , Fonti A. , Conti S. , Prodi M. , Di Martino L. , Martenucci M. , Quarto B. , Vetrella M. , Bona G. , Zaffaroni M. , Montaperto D. , Fragapane M.L. , Presti L. , Bellocchi A.
  • a Unita di Valutazione Epidemiologica, Azienda ULSS 6, Vicenza, Italy, Centres of GLNBI, Vicenza, Italy
  • b Dipartimento Materno Infantile, Università Palermo, Italy, Centres of GLNBI, Palermo, Italy
  • c Ist. Clin. Pediat. Preventiv./N., Università Bologna, Italy
  • d Dipartimento Materno Infantile, Università Palermo, Italy, Centres of GLNBI, Palermo, Italy, Clinica Pediatrica, Ospedale Aiuto Materno, Via Lancia di Brolo 10/B, 90135 Palermo, Italy
  • e Centres of GLNBI, Catania, Italy
  • f Centres of GLNBI, Catania, Italy
  • g Centres of GLNBI, Catania, Italy
  • h Centres of GLNBI, Modena, Italy
  • i Centres of GLNBI, Napoli, Italy
  • j Centres of GLNBI, Napoli, Italy
  • k Centres of GLNBI, Napoli, Italy
  • l Centres of GLNBI, Napoli, Italy
  • m Centres of GLNBI, Novara, Italy
  • n Centres of GLNBI, Novara, Italy
  • o Centres of GLNBI, Palermo, Italy
  • p Centres of GLNBI, Palermo, Italy
  • q Centres of GLNBI, Palermo, Italy
  • r Centres of GLNBI, Roma, Italy

Abstract

Objectives. Although the number of immigrant children in Italian schools is increasing, the problems that these students may face have not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate school performance and possible problems experienced by immigrant children. Methods. During the school year 2001-2002, a multicentre national-cross-sectional study on 24,398 students attending 52 primary and secondary schools in 1,245 classes was carried out. Of these, 1,205 (4.9%) were immigrants. A structured questionnaire was employed inquiring on their parents' native continents, the students' ages and countries of birth, immigration time, school performance in relation to their ethnic groups, knowledge of the Italian language, as well as social integration and intercultural initiatives of teachers' boards. A total of 1,009 immigrant students took part in the study (study group). Results. Parents of children in the study group were from Eastern Europe (43.6%), Africa (27.7%), Asia (15.8%), and Latin America (12.7%). Immigrant students lived mostly in Northern Italy (793,78.6%), but also Central-Southern Italy (216, 21.4%). Overall, 60.4% (609) attended primary school and 39.6% (400) secondary school; 338 (33.4%) of them did not attend the class corresponding to their age and were thus older than their classmates (137, 22.5% in primary school and 201, 50.2%, in secondary school)., This delay seemed related to some risk factors: birthplace in their parents' home country, recent migration to Italy, language difficulties, delayed age of admission to school, socio-cultural disadvantages. Many immigrant students were well integrated with their school-mates, although 184 (18.2%) had opposite behaviours. The intercultural initiatives concerning school integration were more frequent in Northern Italy than in Central-Southern Italy. Conclusions. The leading problem of immigrant students is their poor performance at school, seemingly related to delayed admission to class birthplace in their parents' country, recent migration to Italy, language problems and socio-cultural disadvantages. Specific school policies are warranted to reduce these risk factors and improve the integration of immigrant students in school.

Author Keywords

Immigration school

Index Keywords

primary school teacher immigrant Asian multicenter study clinical trial high school human immigration risk assessment ethnic group policy language academic achievement student school child sociology male female risk factor Behavior questionnaire cultural factor Article experience major clinical study age Italy social class
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-4944249198&partnerID=40&md5=bea7b9a36c55c079a4b238d15cfd5e65
ISSN: 17208424
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English