Description
Every fourth Roma child is denied the right to equal access to education. We want to reverse this negative development by increasing systematically the readiness of mainstream schools for education of Roma pupils. We will try to achieve this goal by (1) building a support network of schools and the development of new collaborations between schools, faculties of education and NGOs; (2) the development of methodologies for improving inclusive education for teachers, faculties of education and school headmasters (3) and direct integration of Roma children into school activities. After this project there should be an increase of heterogeneous classrooms and a development of tolerant atmosphere in mainstream schools. We expect especially Roma pupils, their parents, teachers (their assistants) and Faculties of Education to benefit from our activities. In our project, we will cooperate with Icelandic Human Rights Centre. This cooperation should bring to the project deeper knowledge and experience of international experts. Moreover, their knowledge is based on work within a democratic environment and openness towards all groups of society.
Summary of project results
The educational system in the Czech Republic is founded on the principles of equal access of all citizens to education without discrimination. This aspect of the Czech education system is not being fullfiled. Every fourth Roma child is denied the right to equal access to education. Realized project aimed to achieve systematic increase of readiness ordinary primary schools for education of Roma pupils. There was a comprehensive concept of four interrelated steps: 1) to familiarize professionals and the public with legal requirements and obligations in education, 2) to develop professional competencies of future teachers in the field of inclusive education, 3) to develop strategic management skills of school principals, 4) to spread examples of good practices among a broad spectrum of primary school teachers. Following outputs were produced within the project: We managed to help 50 families to create a clear and understandable guide for parents and representatives of schools on the right to education to support 50 NGOs. We managed to develop a methodology for educational faculty, to train 100 students and to establish partnerships with 10 schools. We managed to develop a methodology for schools, to train 20 senior representatives of schools in the course of strategic management, to establish partnerships with 10 schools. We managed to create a web portal for schools with space for sharing good practices.
Summary of bilateral results
Role of the foreign partner organization's expert was to enhance the quality of outputs in the activities focusing on improving the education of future teachers and school leaders in the area of inclusion. There was an agreement with the partner, that the experts will participate on one of the last meetings of expert groups and they will comment final guidelines for target groups. Established cooperation brought into the project the expertise and experience of foreign experts who have longterm experience with inclusive education. This approach is in Iceland based on democratic environment where openness to all groups of citizens is essential part of comunity life. At the same time we have managed to harness the involvement of foreign experts for consultation not only methodological materials, but also to participate at the conference in the supplementary grant and presentation of Scandinavian concept of inclusive education to Czech professional public.