A needs assessment study on refugees’ inclusion through physical education and sport. Are we ready for this challenge

Bibliographic Data

ID12966141
AuthorsEleftheria Papageorgiou (0000-0001-8313-1345, University of Thessaly, corresponding author), Νikolaos Digelidis (0000-0001-7019-4689, University of Thessaly), Ioannis Syrmpas (0000-0002-4631-6508, University of Thessaly), Αθανάσιος Παπαϊωάννου (0000-0003-4546-1663, University of Thessaly)
Year2021
Volume91
Issue1
Pages21-33
Publication date2021-06-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhysical Culture and Sport Studies and Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1899-4849 • E-ISSN: 2081-2221
PublisherDe Gruyter Open (PUBLISHER • PL)
DOI10.2478/pcssr-2021-0016
OpenAlexW3169313848
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited60

In recent years, European countries have become hosting destinations for thousands of people who have been forced to leave their home countries. Greece is one of the main European hosting countries of refugees, especially children. Thus, the pupil population is gradually changing and the need for intercultural education is increasing. Physical education (PE) and sports have been recorded as suitable contexts for this process. However, there are still many challenges present in these contexts. The following study attempts to present the perceptions of PE teachers, coaches, and academics on the inclusion of refugees in PE and sports. Fifteen PE teachers/coaches and academics involved in the field of intercultural education participated in the study. A phenomenological approach was followed through semi-structured interviews. The method of thematic analysis was chosen to analyze the data. While all the participants considered PE and sports to be the most suitable contexts for the inclusion of refugees, they emphasized certain barriers to be overcome: the lack of training for PE teachers and coaches, prejudices of the parents of both natives and refugees, and refugees’ socioeconomic status and gender issues. Participants also shared their ideas for an adequate training program to improve PE teachers’ and coaches’ attitudes and promote their knowledge and skills regarding the inclusion of refugees. The participants underlined the need for intercultural education and well-structured training programs to properly manage culturally diverse environments

Inclusion (mineral · Medical education · Pedagogy · Physical education · Political science · Population · Qualitative research · Refugee · Social science · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Education Practices and Challenges · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Medicine · Physical Education and Pedagogy · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access