Education Participation of Syrian Refugees in the Netherlands: Explanations Based on Human and Social Capital

Abstract

This study investigated factors that influence education participation among recent Syrian refugees in the Netherlands. We found that a higher education level before entering the Netherlands was positively related to education participation. Age was found to be negatively related to education participation, however, this effect was less negative for those with a higher education level before entering the Netherlands. Dutch language proficiency was also found to be positively related to education participation. These findings are in line with the human capital argument that refugees make an economic decision based upon their profits. Social capital was not found to be related to education participation, contact with Syrians and native Dutch were not found to be related to education participation. Although mental health problems are prevalent among Syrian refugees, they do not relate to education participation. Our findings indicate that human capital is a predictor of education participation and mental health problems do not withhold refugees from entering education. More research is needed in the long term for the education participation of the Syrian refugees in the Netherlands.