In war-torn Gaza, 16-year-old Mona was able to receive more education than she says she's currently able to get in Northern Ireland. That is because, as a refugee or asylum seeker aged 16, she is not automatically able to enter school or college in Northern Ireland. At present, the legal age until which education is compulsory is 16.
But that can leave young people like Mona who have fled conflict to come to Northern Ireland, with no automatic right to education. BBC News NI has asked the Department of Education and the Department for the Economy for comment. Mona came to Northern Ireland from Gaza with her family, including her younger siblings.
"I came here to continue the education and be safe here," she said. "In Gaza I studied online, because of the war." When Mona arrived she was 15 and did not speak English, though she has learned English since. She initially attended school in Coleraine, but since her family moved to Belfast she has not been able to get a place in school or college.
"I feel stressed because I cannot find anything for me," she said. "I would like to study nursing... Because I want to go back to Gaza and help the people in Gaza.
"We are still children and we need education and support." Sara, 19, who came to Northern Ireland from Sudan in 2024 faced similar frustration. She received qualifications in Sudan, but although she wants to be a doctor she has been unable to get a university place to study medicine. "When I came and I tried to get into university they said that as I am a refugee my qualifications would not suffice," she said.
"I had to get the same qualifications as students in Northern Ireland which can be quite frustrating." Sara speaks very good English but had to wait a year to be admitted to Further Education (FE) College to study A-Levels. Like Mona, Sara has received some help and support from Anaka Women's Collective, a community organisation which provides support for asylum seekers. Anaka has previously called for a specialist education programme for those aged 16-24 who come to Northern Ireland as asylum seekers and refugees.
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