Shared values, cultural diversity and education :
What to learn and how ?

ROMA MINORITY EDUCATION STRATEGY

Presov, Spisska Nova Ves, Kosice, Ziar and Hronom, Roznava, SLOVAKIA

The Roma Minority Education Programs aim to create "Effective Schools" and other institutions to be able to prepare Roma students (Roma is an ethnic minority dispersed worldwide) to participate in building the democratic society. The program addresses the educational needs of the Romani population by facilitating institutional change for elimination of institutional oppression and building the capability of the Roma people to participate in education. It is run by the Wide Open School Foundation, which focuses on supporting social changes via internal school reforms and providing equal opportunities for all children and learners to reach their full potential.

The program operates in two areas:
1- Roma School Improvement: the strategies comprise the acquisition of competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, team working, communication and living their life in a multicultural, anti-bias and ethical sense .The competencies will be developed on a crosscurricular basis. The program provides technical equipment, educational material and info-technology. There are training courses for teachers, administrators, parents, students and stakeholders. Tutoring and mentoring of Roma students, especially the "dropouts" from primary, secondary and high schools are also provided.
2- Roma Community Development: there are several programs such as Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Early Childhood Development, Playing School program (after school activities: Gardening, Farming, Science, Reading and Writing), Jobs programs and other projects which include the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology). These activities are organised in both formal and informal educational setting. An innovative part of the program in Roma Minority Education is to train Romani people as assistant teachers. Presently, there are 20 Roma assistant teachers working on it.

The history of the Roma has been one of continuous struggles and persecutions. The Roma - called in a negative connotation as "gypsies" - are a distinct ethnic minority that is dispersed world-wide, suffering from discrimination and oppression through the centuries. Almost everywhere, their fundamental civic rights are threatened. Discrimination against Romani people in employment, education, health care, administration and other services has been always present. In Slovakia, the recent democracy process needs to review this situation according to the principles of a democratic society, which provides people with fundamental human rights. Promoting a more social policy, strengthening Roma cultural identity and encouraging Roma political participation are basic strategies of the struggle against racism and inequalities.
In this context, the program structure of Wide Open School Foundation can be actually seen as a reflection on unsolved prior areas of education system. Since 1994, the Wide Open School has established an innovative model of the Child Center Education in Slovakia based on International Childhood Program in 13 regional centers which were gradually formed.

Mrs. Eva Koncokova
Nadacia Skola dokoran
Wide Open School Foundation
Dr. Janskeho 19/16 965 01
Ziar nad Hronom
Slovakia
T el/fax: 00421 45 672 3137/ 671 6453
E.mail: nsd@nsd.sk
Website : http://www.skoladokoran.sk/

Institutional Partners
Wide Open School Foundation,
Ministry of Education of Slovakia,
Open Society Institute New York.
Financial Partners
Open Society Foundation Bratislava,
PHARE,
local authorities of Slovakia.

September 1999

The Wide Open School has fulfilled the requirements of experimental verification and at present its program has got an accreditation of the Ministry of Education of Slovakia.