13-10-16 EU funding obtained for major Roma education programme

 Staff Structure of the National Strategic Reference Framework – ESPA- Education Sector, of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs

Programme for the integration and education of Roma youth

The Strategic Structure ESPA – Education Sector of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, hereby announces the inclusion of the Action “Integration and Education of Roma Children” in the Partnership Agreement (P.A.) (ESPA) 2014-2020 for the “Development of Human Resources, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020”, according to the decision of Special Secretary for the management of sectoral Operational Programmes of the European Social Fund, Mr Georgios Ioannidis.

The selectable public expenditure for calculating the support of the Union is 1.8 million euros, and the beneficiaries are the University of Athens in cooperation with the University of Thessaloniki and the University of Thessaly.

The objectives of this Action include encouraging school access of Roma children to kindergarten, while helping them remain in school with systematic learning, so as to continue and complete all levels of mandatory education. For those who have dropped out, the aim is to bring them back into the education system. The goals appear analytically in the actions of the programme.

It should be noted that the project “Integration and Education for Roma Children” is being implemented by the University of Athens, being the main beneficiary, which bears the overall responsibility for implementation of the Act, in cooperation with the University of Thessaloniki and the University of Thrace. Each institution will be responsible for the sub-projects which it undertakes, taking into account the particular needs of the areas of intervention and adjusting strategies and tactics to these.

The project includes the following actions:

Action 1: Bolstering access to pre-school education.

The aim is to facilitate access of pre-school Roma to kindergarten and ensure their smooth transition to primary school. Action 1 will be implemented in camps, neighbourhoods and schools.

Action 2: Interventions for school integration and support for regular studies of children in schools.

The objective is to facilitate access and support the continuous study of children in schools with the aim of proceeding with mandatory education. Action 2 will be implemented in camps and settlement neighbourhoods and schools with Roma students.

Action 3: Educational initiatives to help completion of primary school by Roma who have dropped out, as well as adult Roma.

The objective is to organise educational activities to support young Roma complete primary education. Psychologists and social workers in the programme, in cooperation with mediators, will explore and identify educational needs of adult Roma and parents of Roma.

Action 4: Implementation of intervention programmes of primary and secondary prevention of school dropouts with school psychology, training and sensitising of teachers with supportive actions undertaken by mediators.

The objective is to implement intervention programmes of school psychology, for primary systemic prevention and secondary prevention.

Action 5: Scientific, technical-economic and administrative support of the project.

The objective of this action are the smooth operation of the project, maintaining the timetable, effective communication and coordination of all involved institutions, the academic guidance and oversight of piecemeal work packages of the project, the publication of the results and the evaluation of project’s activities.