Teaching refugee children in Reception (School) Facilities for Refugee Education (DYEP) or Non-governmental Organizations (N.G.O.s): teachers’ challenges in Greece

This paper aims to present the challenges teachers face when working in Reception (School) Facilities for Refugee Education (Δομές Υποδοχής και Εκπαίδευσης Προσφύγων, ΔΥΕΠ/DYEP) or Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Greece and it proposes possible solutions. These challenges have an impact on three main levels: communicative, practical and psychological level. Active involvement of parents, proper preparation of teachers and the use of children’s mother tongue are some of the possible solutions proposed in this qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews. Nine (9) teachers participated and enriched the paper with their views. The interviews, among others, highlighted severe obstacles to the different cultures that exist in the classroom, the language barrier and the lack of valuable textbooks. Additionally emphasized the supportive role of the N.G.O.s that while they should be complementary, they often take on gaps and difficulties that DYEP classes cannot.