By Panos Papageorgiou & Mary Tanousis
On 20th of February 2020 we conducted a short question-based research among a sample of the students in our school, to identify whether migrant children or children who have at least one migrant parent faced any discrimination or other difficulties. A total of 32 questionnaires were submitted.
Here are some of the conclusions.
Question 4: Before moving to Cyprus, did you think you would face any difficulties during your life in Cyprus?
From a total of 27 students who answered this question, slightly more than half were born in Cyprus. From those who answered Yes or No, the majority answered ‘No’. Of those who answered ‘Yes’, ‘Language Difficulties’ was identified as the most anticipated problem.
Question 5: After moving to Cyprus, have you faced either of the difficulties you mention above?
In a follow up question, we asked whether from those who had answered yes in question 4, above, they did in fact face any problems. The majority of students answered ‘No’ (67%); they did not face any difficulties.
Question 6: Have you ever faced any discrimination regarding or directly linked to our Ethnicity/origin or other similar reason? Please note all answers that apply to you:
□ Yes, I have been discriminated by a classmate
□ Yes, I have been discriminated by a younger class student/ child.
□ Yes, I have been discriminated by an older class student/ child.
□ Yes I have been discriminated by an adult, who was also responsible for me at the time of the incident (e.g. teacher during class, class sponsor etc)
□ Yes, I have been discriminated by an adult who was not responsible for me at the time of the incident. (e.g. teacher, administrative staff, other)
□ I have never faced discrimination
□ Other ____________________________________________
Students of complete migrant background
Out of a total of 14 migrant students, from different parts of the world, an overwhelming 71% answered that they have felt discriminated at certain point. Only student of Asian origin did not give any ‘Yes’ answers to this question. However, there is the arousing suspicion as to whether or not their reply would have changed now with the recent pandemic.
Students with a foreign background born in Cyprus
On the other hand, out of a total of 14 students of foreign origin, but who were born in Cyprus, 36% answered that they have felt discriminated at a certain point. A much lower percentage from the migrant students.
Age groups of persons who have allegedly engaged in discriminatory conduct
In terms of who they have been discriminated by, the vast majority of students answered they have been discriminated against by a classmate. Indicatively, the following age groups have been identified:
Question 11: Do you feel we should do more activities in our school to promote intercultural dialogue?
Other overall conclusions:
The percentage of migrant students who faced discrimination is considerable.
It seems the largest difficulty faced by migrant students seems to be “Language Difficulties,” which, though not an option, are described by many in their surveys.
Discrimination is generally carried out by older students. In fact, one student of migrant background, who had been discriminated on various occasions, wrote that it is not necessary to promote intercultural dialogue in all classes, as younger classes are well-informed on the subject. This is also evident in the age-groups indicated above.
People who have a migrant parent but who were born in Cyprus generally do not receive discrimination as often as students of a clearly migrant background. This is evident from the fact that the former category 64% answered ‘no’ to question 6, whereas 71% of migrant students answered “yes”.