The successful integration of the children of immigrants is now among the foremost policy challenges for Europe. The children born to post-war migrants in Europe have finished their education and are now of working age, whether they participate in the labor market or not.

Evidence shows, however, that their opportunities and life chances are significantly inferior to those of children born to nonimmigrants.

The children of immigrants are a very diverse group. The largest two components of that group are children of labor migrants and children of migrants from former European colonies. The children of refugees are also a growing group, although most are still young.

The life chances and future careers of these groups of immigrant youth are shaped both by resources from within their own families and communities, and by the opportunities educational and social institutions provide.

This article looks at pathways to success for the children of immigrants (often called the second generation) in Europe. It focuses especially on the role of the different academic tracking systems in Europe on the children of Turkish immigrants, revealing that European countries have much to learn from each others' educational practices.

Source: Migration Policy Institute