Multiculturalism in Europe: trends, reflections and challenges, regarding the school population of a municipality in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Europe‘s population dynamics are represented at various scales. While the municipality of Sintra has specific features, it nevertheless reflects the dynamics of the Lisbon metropolitan area, of the country and of the European continent. The settlement of diverse populations and younger populations, as well as the increase of cultural gaps pose a challenge to the school system. This paper is based on the characterisation of the migratory dynamics in Europe and in Portugal, presenting the exploratory data on the ethnic and cultural diversity, the social and spacial dynamics, and local policies on the integration of the various communities found in Sintra, with aprticular emphasis on the educational area.