Teenage asylum seekers in Northern Ireland have been deprived of their right to education. Hani, an asylum seeker from Kurdistan, came to Belfast hoping to one day go to university. Hossam, who escaped the war in Sudan, has equally lofty dreams of a bright future career. Their journeys have been obstructed by a lack of English proficiency and limited educational opportunities.
Hani’s journey towards education started the moment he stepped foot into Northern Ireland. His passion showed through his fervent quest for educational excellence. “Well, the first thing I called for is education, and study and a school,” he said. He faced immediate obstacles. Because he didn’t have enough English to start with, he was unable to join a Further Education (FE) College. “The only answer I got was that at 16 years old they cannot accept me as a student,” Hani lamented. This limitation has prevented his dreams of achieving GCSEs, moving onto A-Levels and eventually, university from coming true.
Hossam and his twin brother Wyassum’s journey brought them to Belfast in the first month of 2024. They were searching for shelter from persecution they confronted in their native land. Similar to Hani, Hossam has been out of school since his arrival. He wants to continue a dual path of business and fashion design, heading to university. Both young men are part of a group that contributed to the report titled “Stranded Dreams,” which was recently launched at Belfast City Hall.
Our Stranded Dreams report highlights the urgent need for targeted support in critical areas. Young asylum seekers need support in fundamental subjects such as the English language, mathematics, and the sciences. It highlights that as eager to learn and develop as these young people are, their opportunities are still distinctly lacking. Morgan Mattingly, an advocate for refugee education, emphasized this point: “Even though they desperately want to be in school, they want to be learning, their options are very limited.”
In England, local councils are required to provide young asylum-seekers education free of charge until age 19. The picture in Northern Ireland is wholly different. These plans were announced by Education Minister Paul Givan just this week. In one impactful reform, young people will be legally obligated to continue their education or training through the age of 18. In particular, this initiative goes after gaps in educational access. It won’t fully relieve the aggravation faced by youth refugees like Hani and Hossam.
Hani started his path to learn English through a program called Anaka. Thanks to this program, he’s gained the vital English fluency that will help him fulfill his academic aspirations. He articulated the emotional toll of his struggles: “Young people like us, we want to find ourselves, we want to find our future. However, once I came here, I lost myself.”
Catherine Gladwell, Chief Executive of Refugee Education UK, reinforced the importance of educational access for young refugees arriving in the UK. She reiterated that education is not just important — it is his first priority. It can be a radically life-changing experience for these young people.
Hani and Hossam are still adjusting to their new life in Northern Ireland. Together, their stories shed light on the systemic educational inequity experienced by all asylum seekers. The hope remains that increased awareness and targeted support can pave a smoother path for their academic and professional aspirations.
