PROJECT IDENTITY Title of the Project: Education of Roma Children Title of the Project: Education of Roma Children Name of the Operational Program: Name.

PROJECT IDENTITYPROJECT IDENTITY•Title of the Project: Title of the Project: Education of Roma ChildrenEducation of Roma Children

•Name of the Operational Program: Name of the Operational Program:

Education and Lifelong Learning 2007-2013Education and Lifelong Learning 2007-2013

•TargetedTargeted at Roma (directly)at Roma (directly)

•Executed by: University of Athens /University of Thessaloniki in Executed by: University of Athens /University of Thessaloniki in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairsand Religious Affairs

Overview:Overview:The Project promotes quality education and social inclusion with direct The Project promotes quality education and social inclusion with direct

actions towards ROMA Children by :actions towards ROMA Children by :

• Enhancing accessibility and participation of Roma children in the Enhancing accessibility and participation of Roma children in the educational system educational system

• Continued support for actions enriching curricula, educational Continued support for actions enriching curricula, educational material, teachers’ training, distance learning in order to support material, teachers’ training, distance learning in order to support more effective inclusion in the educational system and social life.more effective inclusion in the educational system and social life.

• Combating early school-leaving by enhancing preschool and Combating early school-leaving by enhancing preschool and primary education, all-day kindergarten and primary schools, as primary education, all-day kindergarten and primary schools, as well as language support classes at the level of primary and well as language support classes at the level of primary and secondary education (junior high school).secondary education (junior high school).

• Promotion of intercultural education within the school and wider Promotion of intercultural education within the school and wider school community.school community.

Current situation with Roma in Current situation with Roma in GreeceGreece

• It is estimated that 350,000 Roma live in Greece in roughly 150 – 230 It is estimated that 350,000 Roma live in Greece in roughly 150 – 230 community townscommunity towns ( Council of Europe)( Council of Europe)

• The Roma are not registered separately from other Greek citizens, The Roma are not registered separately from other Greek citizens, therefore making it difficult to have precise figurestherefore making it difficult to have precise figures

• 50% of school aged children attend school. Of these50% of school aged children attend school. Of these 66% have normal attendance66% have normal attendance

14% have disrupted schooling14% have disrupted schooling 25% drop out25% drop out 15% attend support classes15% attend support classes 1,15% transfer to other schools 1,15% transfer to other schools (2004-2006)(2004-2006)

Identifying key areas for Identifying key areas for interventionintervention

• late school enrolmentlate school enrolment

• inadequate school response to Roma children learning needsinadequate school response to Roma children learning needs

• low family incentive to continue children’s schooling low family incentive to continue children’s schooling

• system inability to track school participation and educational system inability to track school participation and educational outcomes for travelling families.outcomes for travelling families.

Key intervention areasKey intervention areas• Early access to schooling: enrolment in preschool, early Primary Early access to schooling: enrolment in preschool, early Primary

School, encourage further education to older studentsSchool, encourage further education to older students

• School Support Program for children who are struggling within the School Support Program for children who are struggling within the school curriculumschool curriculum

• In-school professional training programs for teachers and community In-school professional training programs for teachers and community members on intercultural education strategies and skills in effective members on intercultural education strategies and skills in effective classroom teaching practices that promote meaningful and classroom teaching practices that promote meaningful and successful learning.successful learning.

• Parent Support program so that they too acquire knowledge of the Parent Support program so that they too acquire knowledge of the value and outcomes of educationvalue and outcomes of education

• Self supporting ROMA networks with specific reference to schooling Self supporting ROMA networks with specific reference to schooling

Methodology of ApproachMethodology of Approach• Intercultural educationIntercultural education is a highly specialised form of instruction designed to prepare persons to live is a highly specialised form of instruction designed to prepare persons to live

and work effectively in culturally diverse societies. and work effectively in culturally diverse societies. The term ‘education’ includes all the components of The term ‘education’ includes all the components of formal and non-formal teaching, of family or community education and of all the other processes of formal and non-formal teaching, of family or community education and of all the other processes of organised social interaction aiming at the education of the individualorganised social interaction aiming at the education of the individual

• As a processAs a process, Intercultural Education involves three interrelated concepts:, Intercultural Education involves three interrelated concepts:– Intercultural InteractionIntercultural Interaction– Intercultural CommunicationIntercultural Communication– Intercultural UnderstandingIntercultural Understanding

• As an approachAs an approach, Intercultural Education promotes, Intercultural Education promotes– the appreciation of cultural diversitythe appreciation of cultural diversity– solidarity and tolerancesolidarity and tolerance– the fostering of mutual respectthe fostering of mutual respect– enthnorelative thinking as a means of avoiding stereotyping and prejudiceenthnorelative thinking as a means of avoiding stereotyping and prejudice

As a strategyAs a strategy, the Intercultural Education approach focuses on:, the Intercultural Education approach focuses on:– The identification of barriers which inhibits students from different cultural backgrounds reaching The identification of barriers which inhibits students from different cultural backgrounds reaching

their full learning potential with the aim of providing the framework in re examining these barriers in their full learning potential with the aim of providing the framework in re examining these barriers in the changing learning context and reducing the impact of the disablement by providing support the changing learning context and reducing the impact of the disablement by providing support strategies. strategies.

– The development of skills by the school learning community in understanding cultural diversity in The development of skills by the school learning community in understanding cultural diversity in the process of dealing with difference in a diverse and changing society, and incorporating the process of dealing with difference in a diverse and changing society, and incorporating difference and diversity in the knowledge base of the school.difference and diversity in the knowledge base of the school.

Specific Intervention ActionsSpecific Intervention ActionsIn order to achieve the set goals, it was deemed necessary toIn order to achieve the set goals, it was deemed necessary to• work closely with the Roma community and establish strong links between the school and work closely with the Roma community and establish strong links between the school and

family through the use of Roma mediatorsfamily through the use of Roma mediators• support schools at the early school entry point of Roma children so as to limit the critical support schools at the early school entry point of Roma children so as to limit the critical

transient period between school and hometransient period between school and home• offer ongoing school support particularly regarding student progress within the curriculum by offer ongoing school support particularly regarding student progress within the curriculum by

facilitating the establishment of supplementary support classes, funding expert support facilitating the establishment of supplementary support classes, funding expert support teaching staff , providing additional resources etcteaching staff , providing additional resources etc

• offer ongoing counselling and psychological support both to parents and school community offer ongoing counselling and psychological support both to parents and school community members in the attempt to tackle those interpersonal and personal parameters that infringe members in the attempt to tackle those interpersonal and personal parameters that infringe of successful learning of successful learning

• provide opportunities for teacher training and professional development in intercultural provide opportunities for teacher training and professional development in intercultural education education

• provide the opportunity for parents to attend adult learning classes in the attempt for the provide the opportunity for parents to attend adult learning classes in the attempt for the whole family to participate in the learning processwhole family to participate in the learning process

• develop a school progress tracking system to monitor participation and success rates of develop a school progress tracking system to monitor participation and success rates of Roma children in the attempt to isolate those barriers that inhibit successful schooling and Roma children in the attempt to isolate those barriers that inhibit successful schooling and locate those factors which promote school and community participation.locate those factors which promote school and community participation.

• establish lasting networks and links in support of ROMA issues in the fields of education, establish lasting networks and links in support of ROMA issues in the fields of education, health and welfare and housinghealth and welfare and housing

Measurable OutcomesMeasurable Outcomes

2010-20112010-2011• Number of schools participating in the Project (50 Preschools, 110 Number of schools participating in the Project (50 Preschools, 110

Primary Schools, 5 Jnr Secondary Schools Primary Schools, 5 Jnr Secondary Schools

• Number of School Mediators (32) employed in the projectNumber of School Mediators (32) employed in the project

• Number of teachers participating in the school based training (2,500) Number of teachers participating in the school based training (2,500)

• Number of supplementary support classes ( 55 + 20) Number of supplementary support classes ( 55 + 20)

• Number of Roma students participating in the project (4,500)Number of Roma students participating in the project (4,500)

Emerging IssuesEmerging Issues

• How the support measures form part of the Intercultural Education How the support measures form part of the Intercultural Education ApproachApproach

• How the Roma Project is implemented in schools in conjunction How the Roma Project is implemented in schools in conjunction with other ESF projects with other ESF projects

• The issue of the roll over continuation periods of ESF OP projects The issue of the roll over continuation periods of ESF OP projects and the time gap between implementation periodsand the time gap between implementation periods

• Tools developed during the ProjectsTools developed during the Projects