Introduction to the Issue
In Mexico, refugee children, asylum seekers, and internally displaced adolescents face significant learning gaps, particularly as they enter their teenage years. This revelation comes from the national report “HALDO on the Move,” created by Save the Children Mexico and UNHCR.
Study Findings
The study, conducted in 2024 across Tapachula, Tijuana, and Monterrey, involved 433 children aged 4 to 18 from 15 countries. The results indicate that, despite their academic potential, forced migrant teenagers show alarming stagnation in crucial skills such as reading, arithmetic, socioemotional abilities, and executive function.
- Reading Comprehension: While 90% of teenagers can understand isolated words, only 60% comprehend complex texts.
- Arithmetic: 27% of teenagers demonstrate only basic arithmetic knowledge, placing them at risk of exclusion from formal education systems.
- Socioemotional Skills: Only 42% of teenagers display high levels of empathy, and nearly 90% fail basic memory work tests.
The study also highlighted language barriers as a critical factor, particularly affecting Haitian children whose native languages are Haitian Creole or French. These children performed poorly in reading comprehension and arithmetic due to the exclusive use of Spanish in assessments.
Age-Related Development
The report noted that as children grow older, their abilities generally improve. For instance, 61% of participants aged 9 to 13 and 60% of those aged 14 to 18 demonstrate reading comprehension skills, compared to only 12% of children aged 4 to 8.
- Reading Comprehension: 12% of children aged 4 to 8 can perform two-digit addition and subtraction, while 65% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 can.
- Arithmetic: 65% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 can perform two-digit addition and subtraction, compared to only 13% of children aged 4 to 8.
Proposed Solutions
The study proposed urgent action lines, including:
- Ensuring learning continuity through interventions tailored to emergency contexts.
- Refining assessments to better reflect the abilities of children with disabilities.
- Expanding data collection on diverse groups.
- Developing family guidance strategies.
- Strengthening the institutional capacity of organizations and authorities responsible.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main concern highlighted in the report? The significant learning gaps, particularly in reading, arithmetic, socioemotional abilities, and executive function, that refugee children in Mexico face as they enter their teenage years.
- What factors contribute to these learning gaps? Language barriers, lack of tailored interventions for emergency contexts, and inadequate assessments are key factors contributing to these learning gaps.
- What solutions does the study propose? The study suggests ensuring learning continuity, refining assessments, expanding data collection, developing family guidance strategies, and strengthening institutional capacity.
