Teenage Asylum Seekers Face Education Limbo in Northern Ireland

Young asylum seekers arriving in Northern Ireland are facing a "frustrating" education limbo, with many unable to automatically access schools or colleges once they turn 16. Compulsory education in Northern Ireland currently ends at age 16, leaving those who have fled conflict without an automatic right to continue their studies.

Mona, a 16-year-old who arrived from Gaza with her family, expressed her distress at the situation. "I feel stressed because I cannot find anything for me," she said. "I would like to study nursing... Because I want to go back to Gaza and help the people in Gaza. We are still children and we need education and support." Mona, who did not initially speak English upon arrival, has since learned the language but has been unable to secure a school or college place in Belfast after moving from Coleraine.

Similar challenges are faced by others, including Sara, 19, who came to Northern Ireland from Sudan in 2024. Despite having qualifications from Sudan and aspiring to study medicine, she was told her qualifications were insufficient. "When I came and I tried to get into university they said that as I am a refugee my qualifications would not suffice," Sara stated. "I had to get the same qualifications as students in Northern Ireland which can be quite frustrating." After a year-long wait, Sara was admitted to Further Education (FE) College to study A-Levels. Both Mona and Sara have received support from the Anaka Women's Collective, an organization advocating for a specialized education program for asylum seekers and refugees aged 16-24.

Hani, 20, from Kurdistan, and Hossam, 22, from Sudan, previously contributed to the "Stranded Dreams" report, which highlighted educational barriers for older teenage asylum seekers. Both feel that little has changed since the report's release over a year ago. Hani, who has been in Northern Ireland for four years, experienced delays in accessing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, which in turn delayed her ability to enroll in GCSE courses. "Young people that have arrived in this country need to have a fair opportunity as other young people in this country," Hani said. "Whenever me, my friends and young people come to this country we are starting from zero and we need a pathway to walk in."

Hossam, who has lived in Northern Ireland for three years, echoed these sentiments. "It's surprising, it's really hard to continue in education," he said. "I really want to be a businessman and fashion designer also. So that's my dream and it's really hard to do it here."

The Northern Ireland Executive published a Refugee Integration Strategy in 2025, aiming to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate. However, the strategy did not include specific commitments to improve educational access for older teenagers. The BBC News NI has approached the Department of Education and the Department for the Economy for comment.