Description
The project addresses the need to bring up children from early childhood in the spirit of tolerance. The project aims at raising public awareness about the need to include in the primary school textbooks information about the “other” (people with disabilities, vulnerable groups). First, the content of the primary school textbooks in Bulgaria and in other European countries will be analyzed to identify the main stereotypes and values. Second, 3 meetings with about 30 primary school students will be held to learn about their attitudes to the “other”. Third, the results from the study will be discussed by the stakeholders at 2 round tables. Finally, the data collected and analyzed and recommendation will be presented in a report for the decision-makers. The project will benefit the students, teachers and experts involved, the education system and the public in general. The partner will contribute with expertise, international contacts and experience in working with volunteers.
Summary of project results
The project came in response to the strong racist and discriminatory messages conveyed by the visual and textual content of Bulgarian textbooks and aides for primary school classes. The project aimed at exposing the xenophobic “lessons” in Bulgarian textbooks through comparison with textbooks from other European countries and holding an advocacy campaign promoting the values of tolerance and intercultural dialogue. The project results surpassed the initial goals. The project team engaged other NGOs working with human rights and education and managed to develop and disseminate recommendations for public policies in the area of education to counteract xenophobia, racism and discrimination. Consultations with the Ministry of Education and Science are currently under way for sustainable institutionalization of these recommendations. The expected result was for the messages under the project to reach all stakeholders such as decision-makers, teachers, students, parents and the media. The public campaign under the project surpassed the initial indicators. Surveys were conducted that were reflected in the project reports, disseminated at public events and via the electronic media. The sustainability of results will be ensured through permanent institutionalization of the proposed public policies, i.e. their integration in the relevant ordinances of the Ministry of Education. For more information and access to the reports, please, visit:
https://toleranteducationbg.wordpress.com/
Summary of bilateral results