Immigrant kids may need some help to do their best at school

It’s no surprise that immigrant youth are struggling in our education system. Schools don’t have adequate funding or staff to support immigrants.

Filipino youth who are children of live-in caregivers are not allowed to come to Canada with their mothers. They are separated for an average of seven years and the trauma of separation and reunification hinders their progress at school. They have one of the highest dropout rates in Vancouver. In many families, both the children and the parents work to put food on the table. Understanding immigration patterns and the specific histories of ethnic minorities is critical in serving the interests of immigrant youth, who have the potential to be leaders. The education system must meet their needs or it will shortchange their future and that of Canadian society.

By Rainiel De Guzman, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance
Published in the Vancouver Sun, January 29, 2010