The Survivors: Syrian Young Adult Refugee Experiences Navigating the Quebec Education System

Arianne Maraj; Domenique Sherab; Milagros Calderon-Moya; Ratna Ghosh

doi:10.25071/1920-7336.41201

Authors

Arianne Maraj Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7002-1884
Domenique Sherab
Milagros Calderon-Moya Immigration Initiative at Harvard, Harvard Graduate School Of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1826-0275
Ratna Ghosh McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7520-7298

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/1920-7336.41201

Keywords:

Syrian young adult refugees, academic integration, systemic barriers, adult education, educational fairness and inclusion, social justice

Abstract

Canada resettled over 74,000 Syrian refugees since 2015. However, education programs lack awareness needed to successfully promote refugee academic integration. Little research focuses on young adult refugees (YARs) aged out of traditional schools due to asylum displacement and disrupted education, left with adult education schools as their only alternative to complete high school. Drawing upon 29 semi-structured interviews with Syrian YARs in Montreal, findings suggest that this subgroup is unintentionally excluded by educational policy-makers. Although YARs are survivors, their drive was found to be insufficient when confronted with systemic barriers that prevent at-risk students from proceeding smoothly through school to reach their highest potential.

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Author Biographies

Arianne Maraj, Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Arianne Maraj is a PhD graduate in Education and Society from McGill University. She can be reached at ari29maraj@gmail.com.

Domenique Sherab

Domenique Sherab is an Independent Researcher. She can be reached at domeniquesherab@gmail.com.

Milagros Calderon-Moya, Immigration Initiative at Harvard, Harvard Graduate School Of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Milagros Calderon-Moya is a Visiting Scholar at the Immigration Initiative at Harvard, Harvard Graduate School of Education. She can be reached at milagros.calderonmoya@mail.mcgill.ca.

Ratna Ghosh, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Ratna Ghosh is a Distinguished James McGill Professor Emeritus at McGill University. She can be reached at ratna.ghosh@mcgill.ca.

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