Unaccompanied minors in their transition to adulthood. Protection gaps in the access to education in Greece and Spain

Abstract

This thesis critically explores if legal and policy frameworks in Greece and Spain effectively guarantee unaccompanied minors (UAMs) access to education during the transition to adulthood. While both countries have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and adopted laws promoting the ―Best Interests of the Child,‖ there are still shortcomings in their practical implementation. The great majority of UAMs arriving in Europe are older than 15 and many find themselves in an educational limbo, as compulsory education both in Greece and Spain ends at the age of 15. This places them in a critical protection gap during a vulnerable stage in their lives, intensified by legal, social and institutional barriers, especially after they turn 18 and lose access to child protection services. This paper aims to use a child centred approach to assess how national education policies facilitate the integration of UAMs in the educational system of each country. It reveals that while education is widely recognized as a driver of integration, current frameworks often treat UAMs as migrants first and children second, undermining inclusion and delaying educational engagement. The thesis emphasises that integration policies must evolve from short-term goals to holistic frameworks and child-centred outcomes for UAMs, through investment in inclusive education, intersectional collaboration, appropriate training of professionals and extended protection beyond the age of majority. It offers specific recommendations at national and EU level that aim to reduce systemic barriers, share responsibilities more fairly and transform education from a system that restricts access to one that fosters resilience, empowerment and long-term integration.