The teachers' perception on immigrant students' experience in Maltese State Secondary Schools

Abstract

African immigrants have been coming to Malta for some years now. This phenomenon is due to war, famine and unsettlement in their country amongst other reasons. The families usually send the children or youngsters first, to scout the country since they will have a higher chance of survival and of actually finishing the long and perilous voyage to Europe or America. This study deals with the school experience of these students in Maltese State Schools from the point of view of teachers who have taught one or more immigrant at one point in their career. It is concerned with how schools have reacted to this reality together with the adaptations made by the teachers themselves. This has been studied through a qualitative approach. The units of analysis for this study comprise four individuals; four teachers working in different colleges on the island. It was depicted that little or no preparation is undertaken by schools to cater for these students. They are simply expected to adapt and integrate within the system together with the other local students. Teachers and members of staff have shown interest for training so as to be able to teach these students better and also to be aware who these children are and the heavy baggage of experience they bring with them. Some recommendations at the end of the study have been made.