site.bta972 out of 1,380 Unaccompanied Child Migrants in Bulgaria Do Not Attend School

972 out of 1,380 Unaccompanied Child Migrants in Bulgaria Do Not Attend School

Sofia, February 24 (BTA) - By February 2017, out of a total of 1,380 unaccompanied child migrants who have officially applied for protection in Bulgaria, 972 do not receive schooling. Speaking at an international conference on problems and solutions in migrants' integration through the education systems, Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova described this as "a large and alarming number".

Iotova noted that local administrations often lack trained people and specialists to deal with traumatized children.

"Other issues concerning these children are medical care, vaccines, treatment of chronic diseases, but also the terrible problem which, regrettably, is not yet solved in Bulgaria: that those children are trafficked and disappear from the registration centres," the Vice President said.

She outlined the risks that will materialize unless urgent measures are taken. One of these risks is the disappearance of children from the reception centres after registration, Iotova said. Another alarming issue is that "child migrants fall an easy prey to traffickers and when the don't have money, they pay by theft, prostitution and organ donation." Iotova recommended the setting up of a single register to be used by all institutions concerned with the issue in this country.

Education and Science Minister Nikolay Denkov said at the international conference that 143 child migrants now attend Bulgarian schools. Out of 119 enrolled at the beginning of the school years, 113 successfully finished the first term. Twenty-four child migrants have been enrolled in kindergartens.

"The children seeking international protection need education and vocational training, as well as humanity and empathy. As far as the public is concerned, their integration is the surest precaution against their radicalization," Denkov argued.

The educational integration operation of Operational Programme Science and Education for Smart Growth provides for additional Bulgarian language classes and study options for pupils of ethnic minorities and protection seekers.