Description
Children from Roma communities often begin school without pre-school preparation. The consequence is that their cognitive abilities are under-developed. As a result they fail in the school environment. The project seeks to improve study results of Roma children by training teachers and educational workers, by using the Feuerstein Method for Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) and by active cooperation with children’s parents. The activities of the project include trainings of teachers and educational workers, publication of the FIE method to make it available in Slovak language. Around 100 Roma children including first-years’ children and pre-school children shall be practically thought using FIE.
Summary of project results
Children from Roma communities often begin school without pre-school preparation. Their cognitive functions are under-developed. As a result, they fail in school environments. The project outcomes will be maintained via their implementation in the non-formal education program of the Community Centres national project in Slovakia. Also, they will be included in the amendment to the act on social services (under preparation) and in the formal education at elementary schools. The objective of the project was to improve the study results of children from Roma communities by training teachers, educational workers from community centres, and children in using the Feuerstein Method for Instrumental Enrichment (FIE). The objective was fully met. From a long-term perspective, it is clear that the FIE method, along with other innovative methods of accelerated learning, can be a systemic solution leading to improving the performance of children from stimulus-deprived environments. The outcome of the project was defined as: improved study results of children from minority Roma communities (MRC) as a result of (i) implementing the FIE method, (ii) training teachers and educational workers of community centres, and (iii) cooperating actively with the children’s parents. The outcome was fully met. Main outputs: 6 trained teachers and 19 other educators; successful implementation and evaluation of the FIE methodology in the target group; 20 Roma children in the first year of elementary education and 63 in pre-school clubs taught by FIE method; 65 Roma parents involved; and 54 experts participated in the project. Beneficiaries were involved in a process of intensive stimulation of their cognitive skills, thus increasing their potential for successful social-economic integration. Their parents now understand that it is important for their children to have good results in school, becoming more aware of the benefits of education for the personal development of their children.
Summary of bilateral results