Greek-language education abroad and ‘New’ Migration: the case of the Greek schools in Germany

• Published in: Cahiers balkaniques (Paris) Vol. Hors-série
• Main Author: Chatzidaki, Aspasia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cahiers balkaniques 29-10-2024; Centre d'Études Balkaniques
• Subjects: Greek-language education; heritage language schools; immigrant students; migration; teachers’ attitudes; μετανάστευση; élèves issus de l’immigration; μεταναστόπουλα; représentations des enseignants; Greek-language education; σχολεία γλωσσών πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς; teachers’ attitudes; στάσεις εκπαιδευτικών; immigrant students; heritage language schools; migration; écoles des langues d’origine; éducation en langue grecque; ελληνόγλωσση εκπαίδευση
• ISSN: 0290-7402; 2261-4184
• DOI: 10.4000/12l9l

This paper reports on a qualitative study investigating a particular type of Greek-language education abroad (‘non-mixed’ Greek schools in Germany) and how their teachers view the functions such educational settings serve in the era of ‘new’ migration from Greece. These schools (K-12) follow the Greek curricula and employ teachers seconded from Greece. Following the decision of Greek authorities to start abolishing them in 2011, Greek non-mixed schools saw their students’ numbers wane. ‘New’ migration, however, has led to an important increase in enrolments and a change in the student population’s profile. Οur findings suggest that teachers consider them as irreplaceable, not only because they help maintain a sense of Greek identity among immigrant youths but also because they are believed to be the only educational institution which covers the needs of ‘new’ immigrant students facing important educational and psychological challenges.