1. Educational Needs and Constraints of the Roma children in Greece Nicosia, 12/10/2013

2. INTRODUCTION SEDRIN- TERNO: Projects realised in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme SEDRIN: Empowerment of Roma women in order to support their children in the first classes of the elementary school TERNO: Support to Roma children that attend the last classes of elementary school in order to move to secondary education

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Desk Research Focus Groups Interviews with Roma parents, Roma leaders, teachers, policy makers, municipal authorities, educational experts

4. SEDRIN RESEARCH Main area of Research: Ano Liossia (Athens) 2 Focus Groups 6 individual interviews Informal Conversation with Roma children

5. THE SCHOOL Most women did not go to school or attended only the first classes Reflection of traditional mentality of girls getting married early Fear that girls may be harmed at school Requirement of virginity before marriage Mothers that have sent their children to school are proud for that Not able to actively support their children because of their low educational skills

6. THE SCHOOL “’there is this attitude that Roma families want women at home. They consider it as their personal right. They don’t want them to meet any other men. They want them virgin before the marriage that will occur in a very young age. “

7. THE SCHOOL Children do not have their own room to prepare homework (as many members of the families live together) Situation is worse for children that are living in the sheds

8. PROPOSALS FOR IDEAL SCHOOL No Fights Offer Food Organise extracurricular activites Intermediation

9. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SCHOOL ATTAINMENT Mentality that wants girls not to go to school Obligation of some children to travel with their parents to sell products Poor living conditions: Survival as the first priority Low Educational Level of Parents Early Age of Marriage leads to dropout from the secondary school

10. STEREOTYPES- PREJUDICES Not so high among the children of younger age Not so high among the teachers Significant in the secondary education Significant among the parents Prejudice because of hygiene reasons “most of the times in a fight they accuse the Roma child even if he doesn’t start it”

11. CULTURE ISSUES Men: It is important that Roma children in school learn aspects of the Roma culture Women: It is not so important Main issue: Roma children to be integrated in the class (together with non Roma children) (many schools are de facto segregated) Many parents are unaware of the basic requirements for their child’s enrollment in the school. Mothers follow the childrens’ progress more often

12. MAIN NEEDS Proper Housing Food Alert for the main dates of enrolment and vaccination Roma mentality about school (especially regarding girls) Alphabetisation

13. MALE AND FEMALE FIGURE “The opinion of father is always stronger inside the family’” Participation in the project subject to the approval of the husband Situation is gradually changing (also because of the financial crisis)

14. MAIN CONSTRAINTS Poverty Negative attitudes of Roma parents towards education Racism in School Low Expectations of Roma students on their education Linguistic Differences

15. EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ROMA WOMEN Basic literacy skills for Roma women Instructions on how to contact some specific services (local authorities, health services providers, social insurance etc.). Basic instructions for the preparation of the children for school (regulations, deadlines for registration, clothing, timekeeping, frequency etc.) How they can participate in parents associations Basic support on how to monitor their children for the lessons/ homework

16. TERNO RESEARCH Main area of Research: Aghia Varvara (Athens) 2 Focus Groups Individual interviews with teachers, Roma parents, Roma students, school principles and school experts Focus on older children that attend the last classes of the elementary school

17. CAUSES OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE Racism (not in overall but there are frequent incidents) Institutional Discrimination Learning Difficulties in the first classes of high school Not able to provide everything a student needs because of unemployment Not always good communication with teacher Conflicts, absenteeism

18. CAUSES OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE “My child is 12 years old and she should be going to the sixth grade of elementary school. I was leaving to Cyprus for professional reasons but decided to return, but the school didn’t allow my child to go to school, and my girl is crying”

19. NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS More Supporting Classes A teacher that would help with difficulties Children to finish school and go to the university

20. OPINIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOL Degree of racism low Good communication with the school” “The school principle is always gritting on me and when there is a conflict he punish only me”

21. DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT Not special services outside the school (except from some all day schools) No study groups or teaching assistants Need for extra lessons as they cannot afford private lessons

22. THE IDEAL SCHOOL More creative activities More heating Less Fights More Technology

23. MAIN NEEDS A person who will be able to support them with their homework and support their educational progress Preparation for the way of functioning of the secondary school “Our children meet problems in the first grades of high school where the requirements are higher and we can’t help them. Especially their main difficulties are in mathematics and the foreign language.” More Involvement of Parents and communication with the teacher

24. CONTACT US www.sedrin.eu www.romaterno.eu euprograms@action.gr