Dual course for immigrant parents

Problem

How can the social position of immigrant parents be improved?

Description

The target group is immigrant parents with poor Dutch language skills. They belong to the so-called old comers group (i.e. individuals of 18 years or older born outside of the EU and in possession of a valid residence permit or Dutch passport) and have at least one child aged 0 to 18 years. For the courses on offer, selections are made based on the candidate’s language level and an objective perspective. Grandparents are allowed to participate in a course when they are involved in raising a grandchild.
The course is split into theme-based courses and NT2-courses, which aim to promote parental involvement at the child’s school. Parents are provided with information on health and child raising and are introduced to various institutes and organisations in Almere whose focus is child welfare. The language course is geared to the themes that relate to parenting. This allows them to better guide their children through school.

Approach

Each student received course counselling to prevent dropout, detect problems and get an insight into student satisfaction. The course counsellor organised a number of matters in the field of reimbursing expenses. Furthermore, an intake interview, two progress interviews and a course graduation/continuance interview were provided.
The basic course was followed by a follow-up course that aimed to promote social activation and improve language skills. A course was offered to women who wanted to do paid or unpaid work and a course was offered to women who wanted to maintain their listening and speaking skills.

Results

• To date, 32 % of the students have registered for or moved on to a follow-up course.
• 0.5 % has taken up employment.
• A large number of principals have remarked that more immigrant mothers are coming to the parent talks than before.
• Parents move more freely in school and find it easier to approach the teachers.
  
  

Contact info

City of Almere
T. Woudstra

Project start date

01/04/2004