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From Recognition to Knowledge Creation: Education of Refugee Youth Learners in Alberta and British Columbia
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- Author / Creator
- Asadi, N.
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Educational success for many refugee learners in the Canadian education system has been a difficult if not challenging achievement. Educational institutions mirror the values and practices of the larger society. Similar to the values and practices nationally and internationally, in educational organizations refugees as a specific group of learners have been largely disregarded. The invisibility of refugee learners in educational institutions has resulted in limited academic success of these learners (Kanu, 2007; Keddie, 2012; Ngo, 2009a; J. Rutter, 2006; Stead, Closs, & Arshad, 2002; Taylor & Sidu, 2012). Through multiple case study analysis, this research examines the underlying reasons for the low educational achievement of refugee learners in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Under the framework of race equity and social justice, this study presents a detailed document analysis of Alberta’s and British Columbia’s educational policies as they relate to refugees. Further, through interviews with various stakeholders, such as educational policy makers and policy implementers in schools the impact of policies and existing practices for refugee learners are explored. Analysis of data identifies the underlying causes for refugee youths’ failure to succeed as a lack of recognition and cognitive justice as pillars of policy design and enactment. This study concludes with recommendations to improve refugee youths’ educational opportunities by enhancing policy design and implementation based on the conscious recognition of all students’ histories and knowledge. As well as an awareness of epistemic understanding of self and recognition of power relations.
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2017
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.