The OECD Trento Centre for local development is undertaking a research project in the Autonomous Region Trentino Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy, on learning performance, school-to-work transition and professional success of children and young people whose usual language spoken at home does not match the language of the school they attend.
This situation occurs frequently among children from parents with a migration background as well as among children living in European border regions where linguistic communities live on either side of a national border.
The school-home language mismatch may represent a major challenge for pupils as they grow-up and prepare for entering the labour market. At the same time, national school systems may affect how schools can support pupils navigating the school-home language mismatch.
If not adequately addressed, these challenges may not only limit the educational and professional aspirations of individual young people, but may also represent a loss for the wider socio-economic system, as communities risk missing the opportunity to fully mobilise talented and qualified individuals who could otherwise make an important contribution to local development, innovation and long-term regional competitiveness.
This project aims to inform policies that regional authorities can undertake to improve the education and career outcomes of young people growing up in such a multi-lingual context.
Implementation period: 2026-2027.
