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Over the past decade, Malta has experienced an unprecedented surge in its migrant population, which now constitutes approximately one-fifth of the total population (NSO, 2024). Despite the nation’s economic dependence on migrant labour, migrants are often perceived as a burden—largely due to the strain they place on infrastructure that has not expanded in tandem with population growth. Migration policies reflect this tension: while the labour of migrant workers is welcomed, their families are often treated as “discardable populations” (de Sousa, 2006, p. 18), likely because they are viewed as non-productive.
A growing number of third-country national (TCN) parents report that their children are being denied access to state education, with some children remaining out of school for over a year. This issue remains under-researched, and this study may be one of the first to examine the systematic denial of educational access for TCN children. Accordingly, it is framed as an exploratory investigation aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of TCN parents as they attempt to enrol their children in state schools.
An open-ended, qualitative approach was adopted to explore the specific socio-political context in which these parents are operating. Estimates suggest that around 500 children may be affected by this issue. However, recruiting participants proved challenging and necessitated the use of intermediaries. These methodological difficulties are significant and will be discussed, as they have a direct impact on the scope and nature of the findings.
References:
- de Sousa Santos, B. (2006). The Rise of the Global Left: The World Social Forum and Beyond. London: Zed Books.
- National Statistics Office, Malta (2024) Regional Statistics MALTA 2024 Edition.
Date and time of webinar: 27 May 2025, 5:00-5:45 pm (CET).
Guest Speaker: Louise Chircop, L-Università ta’ Malta, Malta.
Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ermira Kalaj, University “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Shkodra, Albania.
Language: English.
Webinar link:
- https://unibw.zoom-x.de/j/65566981487?pwd=QEUBEHAgYNbLo4Th9xcbUGhqDsiK6a.1
- Meeting-ID: 655 6698 1487
- Pass code: 553537
