Greek-Cypriot Students’ Stances and Repertoires Towards Migrants and Migrant Students in the Republic of Cyprus

Abstract

The present paper focuses on the stances and repertoires of 30 GreekCypriot students with whom semi-structured, in-depth interviews were carried out about their feelings and perceptions of migrants and migrant children in Cyprus. As it is shown, stances are not the only key factor in the creation and reproduction of racial and ethnic categories; repertoires are also entangled with stances and can be broadly differentiated, highlighting the complex ways in which children and adolescents portray migrants and contribute to formulating the context of migrants' reception in society. In addition, the diverse experiences of direct or no contact with migrants are entangled with perceptions of migrants as a whole and contribute to the reproduction of certain behavioural stances. Based on the analysis of students' stances and repertoires, we discuss educational policies and practices that facilitate a better integration of migrant children in schools.

Teaching Mathematics in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms: Greek-Cypriot Elementary Teachers' Reported Practices and Professional Needs

“…A small Mediterranean island and a member of the European Union (EU) since 2004, the Republic of Cyprus has had a diverse demographic character even before its declaration as a Republic in 1960 (Hajisoteriou, Neophytou, & Angelides, 2012). Over the last few years, however, a great number of immigrants and labour workers from East Asia, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East has arrived to the island, along with some internal movement of Turkish Cypriots from the north part of the island-occupied by Turkish military forces since 1974-to the south part, controlled by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus (Zembylas & Lesta, 2011). According to the latest census for the government-controlled part of the island (Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, 2011), 667,398 inhabitants have Cypriot citizenship (including people with dual citizenship); 106,270 have EU citizenship; and 64,113 a non-EU citizenship.…”

“…According to the latest census for the government-controlled part of the island (Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, 2011), 667,398 inhabitants have Cypriot citizenship (including people with dual citizenship); 106,270 have EU citizenship; and 64,113 a non-EU citizenship. About half of the people who migrated to the Cyprus Republic in the last decade are female domestic workers, while a high percentage of the rest is employed in agriculture, the tourism industry, and in construction (Zembylas & Lesta, 2011).…”

“…The changing demographics of the population have certainly altered the pupil population of the Republic (Angelides, Stylianou, & Leigh, 2003;Zembylas & Lesta, 2011). The Ministry of Education and Culture (MoEC) first expressed an explicit interest in diversity issues in 2001 (Hajisoteriou et al, 2012).…”