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Description
The Nova škola project {lasting 27 months} supports equality in the education process of (above all) Roma socially excluded pupils. Roma children will be supported by Roma school assistants when preparing for the elementary school education, dealing with primary school learning process requirements, preventing pupils from leaving the education process by providing targeted motivation as well as by building relations of trust among the schools and parents. 5 partners are constituting the project team: 2 local primary schools, 2 local organizations providing social service and a Prague NGO associating top Czech documentary photographers.
Together we are aware of a negative trend in the Czech education system, e. g. its extremely strong dependence on family social and economic status caused, among others, by differentiating the quality of schools as well as their abilities to support socially excluded pupils. This trend is intensified by the geographical location of the schools in an economically extremely weak region.
Four main activities are constituting the project and lead to education system improvements for local (above all) Roma pupils who represent the main target group of the project. There are other target groups, e. g. non-Roma pupils, Roma children''s parents and school teachers. The activities work on the assumption that the pupils need to experience success to build a positive attitude towards school. Nevertheless, Roma pupils lack such experience. Besides school assistants, the project provides specific free time activities as well as opportunities to meet Roma role models enabling pupils to value its Roma origin.
Summary of project results
Czech schools place many demands on Romani pupils with social disadvantages and their parents that are difficult for them to meet. Moreover, they often have nothing to identify with at school, encounter prejudice or experience discrimination. This often leads to school failure and a loss of motivation to ''keep going'' (te džal dureder). Thanks to pre-application consultations with partners and knowledge of the topic, we did not face any major obstacles.
The main focal point of the project was the involvement of assistants who were intensively involved in direct support of pupils in preparing for lessons and supporting their parents in communication with the school. Through intensive support and discussions with the Roma students, The project strengthened the motivation of the pupils and the feeling that I too can achieve something if I persevere. The photography workshops were an opportunity to experience success and to test that constant work on something brings results - children, parents and the general public had the opportunity to see the photographs at local exhibitions and at the Prague Dernissage. Through ethno-emancipatory and intercultural activities, such as discussions with Romani authors or
meetings between teachers and parents, The project has strengthened the healthy self-esteem and identity of Romani pupils and their parents, and mutual knowledge and understanding between them and school staff.
Thanks to the project, a total of 881 people, including 675 Romani people (children and their parents), have received support in coping with the demands placed on them by the Czech education system. It has contributed to the prevention of school failure at the beginning and during education and, according to teachers and pupils themselves, to the motivation of some of the pupils supported to complete primary school and continue on to secondary school.
The project has contributed to reducing inequalities in education, especially for socially disadvantaged Romani pupils, through intensive support for their transition to primary school, coping with the demands of primary school, motivation to stay in education, and intensive work with their parents and methodological support for the school''s teachers.