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Description
“Together for an inclusive school” is a 24 months project which aims to increase the institutional capacity of 5 schools from Ilfov county (Gymnasium School no. 1 Pantelimon, Gymnasium School no. 4 Buftea, Gymnasium School Nr. 1 Tunari, Gymnasium School no. 3 Sinteşti – vidra, "Cezar Nicolau" Technological High School) to develop inclusive culture and practices for Roma children by: (1) training 78 teachers in adapting teaching methods to students’ needs, inclusive school, democracy and human rights; (2) developing 6 school curriculum on inclusion, with focus on Roma inclusion and (3) implementing non-formal activities for 265 students (at least 50% are Roma). Also, the project raises awareness and knowledge on discrimination issues through parental activities with 150 parents (50% of them are Roma). Thus, the project will have an impact on all the 3 target groups – students, parents and teachers through measures and activities adapted for the needs of the groups.
The main issue that will be addressed through the project is the reduced access to quality inclusive education for children and young people at risk in Ilfov County. The causes that determine this problem are: school activities not adapted to the needs of students, teachers not prepared to face multiple and different needs of students, lack of effective communication between teachers - students - parents, low quality of school education.
All 5 schools selected to be part of the consortium are located in marginalized communities and exposed to social exclusion.
Summary of project results
The "Together for an Inclusive School" project aimed to address the reduced access to quality inclusive education for children and young people at risk in Ilfov County (Romania). School activities not adapted to the needs of the students, teachers who are not prepared to cope with the multiple and different needs of the students, the lack of effective communication between teachers - students - parents, the low quality of school education were the main causes identified in the project writing stage. Therefore, the project activities targeted both teachers and students and their parents from five schools situated in disadvantaged areas and with a high percentage of Roma children.
The project has a student-centred approach, meeting students needs such as: the need to have interactive classes, to be valued and encouraged, to feel safe at school, to be involved and consulted, as well as the need for a healthy relationship between teachers - students - parents, based on non-discrimination. In order to determine the institutional development of the partner schools, within the project trainings for teachers, parents and students were organised.
Each of the five partner schools in Ilfov County developed a curriculum for an optional school subject, to be implemented in the next school year. These school curricula aimed at developing inclusive practices, promoting diversity, interculturality and civic engagement of young people, as well as promoting nonviolence and gender equality among students.
Within the Roma and non-Roma parents groups organized, topics such as: Knowledge and expectations, Self-perception and community perception, Interculturality and diversity, Promoting non-violence in the community, Stereotypes and prejudices regarding minorities, Roma History and identity, Discrimination - what it is and how it manifests itself, Methods of combating discrimination, School-student-parents-community relationship, Promotion of local models of success, Motivation for education, were addressed.
A hole range of activities were organised for and with the partner school students: peer training on inclusion by students mentors, identification of the Role Models from the Roma community, creation of school newsletters for inclusion, crafts summer schools, sports activities, intercultural camps, business and financial education clubs, social theatre clubs, public speaking and debate clubs.
80 teachers from the partner schools were trained in topics such as the student-centred approach, inclusive school, democracy, human rights, contributing to the creation of an inclusive culture at the level of the 5 schools involved in the project. Teachers had the opportunity to exchange experiences, learn new methods and techniques, to apply them in the classroom and adapt them according to the local context.
Six school curricula were elaborated to be applied in the partner schools: Diversity and Interculturality Promotion, Education for Sustainable Development, Education for Active Citizenship, Education Promoting Non-violence, Education for Gender Equality ,and Roma History, Culture and Identity.
More than eighty parents were made aware, by participating in the project activities, on anti-discrimination, diversity and interculturality and discussed the relation parent-child-teacher in order to support their school attendance.
More than 260 Roma and non-Roma students took part in extra-curricular activities, which increased their knowledge on inclusive schools, empowered them, and reduced the level of discrimination of Roma students in the partner schools.