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Description
Segregation in pre-university education is found in many schools in Romania. Although in 2019, the Ministry of Education approved the Methodology for Monitoring Segregation in Pre-University Education, this methodology contains a number of aspects that should be improved in order to be implemented in a more effective way. The project aims to empower local NGOs in 7 counties in Romania and turn them into watchdogs of school segregation and advocates for discrimination-free education. Thus, the organizations will be trained to carry out advocacy actions at local and even at European level; they will be given the necessary tools to ensure the monitoring of the implementation of the methodology on segregation in pre-university education in order to improve institutional monitoring. The aim of the project is to improve institutional practices in the implementation of legislation to prevent and combat segregation and racial discrimination through watchdog, monitoring and advocacy actions of NGOs able to identify and report discrimination of Roma students in education in the form of segregation. The project will also provide legal counselling services to 600 victims of segregation, and will organise awareness-raising sessions among more than 1200 Roma and Roma parents, as well as training 300 teachers and 2400 students on the effects of segregation and the right to an education without discrimination. The partner has relevant experience in community development and will be involved in coordinating the monitoring process of the implementation of the methodology, in providing legal assistance to victims, in implementing advocacy actions, participation in events etc.
Summary of project results
After the implementation of the project "School for All Children! 1," the situation indicates that there are still several issues, such as the lack of expertise among local NGOs to act as watchdogs against segregation and advocates for desegregation in other regions of the country, the Ministry of Education''s practice of improperly implementing legislation on segregation for 16 years, and the low level of public awareness regarding the effects of segregation and children''s rights to a discrimination-free education.
Considering the problems/needs identified by CADO, the project "School for All Children! 2" aimed to strengthen the capacity of local NGOs in 7 other counties to serve as watchdogs against school segregation and advocates for education without discrimination, through advocacy efforts from local to European levels; monitoring the implementation of the Ministry''s methodology in 11 counties to improve institutional oversight of segregation; providing legal assistance to 600 victims of segregation; and raising awareness among over 1,200 Roma and non-Roma parents, 300 teaching staff, and 2,400 students about the effects of segregation and the right to a discrimination-free education.
In the context of the project, the following measures and actions were outlined:
- Empowering local NGOs to act as watchdogs against segregation in education;
- Monitoring the implementation of the National Ministry of Education''s Methodology for Monitoring Segregation;
- Developing procedures for investigating segregation in education and transferring them for use by the National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD);
- Investigating cases of school segregation;
- Providing legal assistance to victims of segregation;
- Implementing an advocacy campaign at the county and national level;
- Conducting advocacy actions at the European level to ensure the effective implementation of legislation and mechanisms for preventing and combating segregation;
- Organizing an awareness and education campaign regarding school segregation and children''s rights.
Main results:
- Two conferences were organized (project launch and final conference) with a total of 119 participants.
- The proportion of the target group with a favorable attitude towards human rights was 86.06%.
- Seven NGOs were empowered to act as watchdogs against school segregation and provide services to victims of segregation, with a participation of 32 individuals.
- Three training curricula were developed, and three online courses were conducted.
- A total of 37 individuals were involved in the activities of civil society organizations for NGO training.
- Segregation was monitored in 1,387 primary and secondary schools across 11 counties.
- Data was collected from 805 schools, resulting in 11 county monitoring reports.
- One overall report was produced for all monitored counties.
- One interactive online map was created.
- Investigations were initiated for 80 cases, of which 10 cases were forwarded to the CNCD/court.
- Legal counseling was provided to 1,017 parents from schools identified as being at risk of segregation.
- An advocacy campaign was implemented at the national level (including 10 local roundtables, 1 national roundtable, and advocacy documents sent to the Ministry of Education, National Authority for Regulation, and the Desegregation Methodology), as well as at the European level (roundtable titled "Towards Zero Segregation in Education in Europe" within the European Parliament).
- Recommendations for preventing and combating segregation in education were submitted to European institutions, along with the organization of an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign on school segregation in the 11 counties, reaching 1,107 Roma and non-Roma parents.
- The flash mob involved 384 teaching staff and 2,455 students.