For young asylum seekers studying in Scottish schools, this year's exam results have suddenly become more meaningful. The announcement by Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary, that children of asylum-seeking families who are offered a university place after three years or more of study in Scottish schools will no longer have to pay tuition fees - between £5000 and £24,000 - will make it possible for them to go to university.
For young asylum seekers studying in Scottish schools, this year's exam results have suddenly become more meaningful. The announcement by Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary, that children of asylum-seeking families who are offered a university place after three years or more of study in Scottish schools will no longer have to pay tuition fees - between £5000 and £24,000 - will make it possible for them to go to university.
It should not be contentious. Universities Scotland and the Scottish Refugee Council have already called on the Scottish Executive to take this step. The recent report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education into the education of children of asylum-seeking families in Glasgow found that they did better than average in Standard Grade and Higher exams. However, under the current system, they are treated as non-EU international students and required to pay hefty fees or are limited to part-time college courses. Their frustration is compounded by Home Office rules which also prevent them from working.
Waiving tuition fees is as far as the Scottish Executive can go in helping asylum-seeking young people to make the most of their potential and to contribute to the country where they have refuge. It does not remove the ever- present threat of deportation. That was demonstrated by the case of Merita Hazizi. The 22-year-old arrived here in 2001 with her family, who were fleeing persecution in Albania. She did well at school, and in 2003 was awarded an asylum-seeker scholarship by Strathclyde University, but was detained pending deportation with her family last year after their asylum bid was rejected. She was released when the university undertook to pay her study and accommodation costs, but was re-arrested last month, although she must sit exams in September to complete her degree.
If we are to encourage asylum- seekers to study at Scottish universities, they must be allowed to complete their degrees and should also be given the opportunity to work here after graduation, not least to fill the skills gap. The previous administration's Fresh Talent initiative, after all, was designed to attract skilled migrants.
We are not talking of large numbers: there are 18 asylum-seeking school-leavers likely to be offered a place at a Scottish university in 2007-08, and Universities Scotland estimates that in future there will be 10 potential candidates per year. Under new Home Office procedures, all the "legacy cases" should be dealt with by 2011, when no-one will spend three years at school as an asylum seeker. It is also good news that children aged three and four from asylum-seeking families will be given nursery places, but the unresolved difficulties over deportation of families with children who are well-integrated into Scottish education must still be addressed with the Home Office.
