EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Special childcare training programme for immigrants

Special childcare training programme for immigrants - Tiel

Introduction

The Tiel childcare foundation urgently needed new employees, preferably those from an immigrant background, as level 3 childcare assitants. In view of the developments in childcare, there is a need for immigrant leaders and childcare workers.

Problem

How can immigrants with an insufficient command of the Dutch language be given an opportunity to follow a childcare training programme?

Description

Immigrants who do not yet have a sufficient command of the Dutch language and who live in or around Tiel can still follow the childcare training programme. The training takes at least 2 years, in which the first year takes the form of a full-time vocational course. In the second year, a switch is made to a combination of learning and working. In the programme a strong emphasis is put on the improvement of the students' command of the Dutch language in addition to the vocational courses.

Approach

The city of Tiel has put a lot of effort into making this project possible, using funds intended for oldcomers. The result is that childcare is completely covered, while tuition fees are also covered to a great extent. The project was launched in 2002. Oldcomers can follow the training programme, as can newcomers and immigrants from other municipalities. Participants can take the programme as a follow-up to the teaching assistant and childcare courses.

Results

A group of fourteen immigrant women from various ethnic backgrounds started the programme in 2002.`
Ten of them have finished the programme, which makes them the first students in the Netherlands to have finished the programme at this level within 2.5 years.
On 25 February 2005, the first group of female students at ROC Rivor received the Childcare Worker level 3 diploma.

Contact info

City of Tiel
Hicham Hamiddane (Policy worker Integration)

Project start date

01/09/2002

Links

City of Tiel (in Dutch)ROC Rivor (taught the training programme)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Skills improvement, Health