PROJECT IDENTITY Title of the Project: Education of Roma Children Title of the Project: Education of Roma Children Name of the Operational Program: Name of the Operational Program: Education and Lifelong Learning Education and Lifelong Learning Targeted at Roma (directly) Targeted at Roma (directly) Executed by: University of Athens /University of Thessaloniki in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs Executed by: University of Athens /University of Thessaloniki in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs

Overview: The Project promotes quality education and social inclusion with direct actions towards ROMA Children by : Enhancing accessibility and participation of Roma children in the educational systemEnhancing accessibility and participation of Roma children in the educational system Continued support for actions enriching curricula, educational material, teachers training, distance learning in order to support more effective inclusion in the educational system and social life.Continued support for actions enriching curricula, educational material, teachers training, distance learning in order to support more effective inclusion in the educational system and social life. Combating early school-leaving by enhancing preschool and primary education, all-day kindergarten and primary schools, as well as language support classes at the level of primary and secondary education (junior high school).Combating early school-leaving by enhancing preschool and primary education, all-day kindergarten and primary schools, as well as language support classes at the level of primary and secondary education (junior high school). Promotion of intercultural education within the school and wider school community.Promotion of intercultural education within the school and wider school community.

Current situation with Roma in Greece It is estimated that 350,000 Roma live in Greece in roughly 150 – 230 community towns ( Council of Europe)It is estimated that 350,000 Roma live in Greece in roughly 150 – 230 community towns ( Council of Europe) The Roma are not registered separately from other Greek citizens, therefore making it difficult to have precise figuresThe Roma are not registered separately from other Greek citizens, therefore 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 attendance 66% have normal attendance 14% have disrupted schooling 14% have disrupted schooling 25% drop out 25% drop out 15% attend support classes 15% attend support classes 1,15% transfer to other schools ( ) 1,15% transfer to other schools ( )

Identifying key areas for intervention late school enrolment late school enrolment inadequate school response to Roma children learning needs inadequate school response to Roma children learning needs low family incentive to continue childrens schooling low family incentive to continue childrens schooling system inability to track school participation and educational outcomes for travelling families. system inability to track school participation and educational outcomes for travelling families.

Key intervention areas Early access to schooling: enrolment in preschool, early Primary School, encourage further education to older studentsEarly access to schooling: enrolment in preschool, early Primary School, encourage further education to older students School Support Program for children who are struggling within the school curriculumSchool Support Program for children who are struggling within the school curriculum In-school professional training programs for teachers and community members on intercultural education strategies and skills in effective classroom teaching practices that promote meaningful and successful learning.In-school professional training programs for teachers and community members on intercultural education strategies and skills in effective classroom teaching practices that promote meaningful and successful learning. Parent Support program so that they too acquire knowledge of the value and outcomes of education Parent Support program so that they too acquire knowledge of the value and outcomes of education Self supporting ROMA networks with specific reference to schoolingSelf supporting ROMA networks with specific reference to schooling

Methodology of Approach Intercultural education is a highly specialised form of instruction designed to prepare persons to live and work effectively in culturally diverse societies. 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 organised social interaction aiming at the education of the individual Intercultural education is a highly specialised form of instruction designed to prepare persons to live and work effectively in culturally diverse societies. 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 organised social interaction aiming at the education of the individual As a process, Intercultural Education involves three interrelated concepts: As a process, Intercultural Education involves three interrelated concepts: – Intercultural Interaction – Intercultural Communication – Intercultural Understanding As an approach, Intercultural Education promotes As an approach, Intercultural Education promotes –the appreciation of cultural diversity –solidarity and tolerance –the fostering of mutual respect –enthnorelative thinking as a means of avoiding stereotyping and prejudice As a strategy, the Intercultural Education approach focuses on: –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 the changing learning context and reducing the impact of the disablement by providing support strategies. –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 difference and diversity in the knowledge base of the school.

Specific Intervention Actions In 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 family through the use of Roma mediatorswork closely with the Roma community and establish strong links between the school and family through the use of Roma mediators support schools at the early school entry point of Roma children so as to limit the critical transient period between school and homesupport schools at the early school entry point of Roma children so as to limit the critical transient period between school and home offer ongoing school support particularly regarding student progress within the curriculum by facilitating the establishment of supplementary support classes, funding expert support teaching staff, providing additional resources etcoffer ongoing school support particularly regarding student progress within the curriculum by facilitating the establishment of supplementary support classes, funding expert support teaching staff, providing additional resources etc 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 of successful learningoffer ongoing counselling and psychological support both to parents and school community members in the attempt to tackle those interpersonal and personal parameters that infringe of successful learning provide opportunities for teacher training and professional development in intercultural educationprovide opportunities for teacher training and professional development in intercultural education provide the opportunity for parents to attend adult learning classes in the attempt for the whole family to participate in the learning processprovide the opportunity for parents to attend adult learning classes in the attempt for the whole family to participate in the learning process 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 locate those factors which promote school and community participation.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 locate those factors which promote school and community participation. establish lasting networks and links in support of ROMA issues in the fields of education, health and welfare and housing establish lasting networks and links in support of ROMA issues in the fields of education, health and welfare and housing

Measurable Outcomes Number of schools participating in the Project (50 Preschools, 110 Primary Schools, 5 Jnr Secondary SchoolsNumber of schools participating in the Project (50 Preschools, 110 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 ( )Number of supplementary support classes ( ) Number of Roma students participating in the project (4,500)Number of Roma students participating in the project (4,500)

Emerging Issues How the support measures form part of the Intercultural Education ApproachHow the support measures form part of the Intercultural Education Approach How the Roma Project is implemented in schools in conjunction with other ESF projectsHow the Roma Project is implemented in schools in conjunction with other ESF projects The issue of the roll over continuation periods of ESF OP projects and the time gap between implementation periodsThe issue of the roll over continuation periods of ESF OP projects and the time gap between implementation periods Tools developed during the ProjectsTools developed during the Projects