Roma and equal Access to Education From segregation to integrated schooling

1. Roma and equal Access to EducationFrom segregation to integrated schooling Brussels, 28-29 April 2006 www.gitanos.org

2. Content • The Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) • Spain’s Education System • Education and the Roma Community in Spain

3. The Fundación Secretariado Gitano • Non-profit inter-cultural social organisation • Mission: the social advancement of the Roma community based on respect for cultural identity. • Activity: • Provision of services to the Roma community • Training, counselling, awareness-heightening

4. The Fundación Secretariado Gitano • Direct beneficiaries of our actions (2005): 70,000 • Work centres throughout Spain: 60

5. The Fundación Secretariado Gitano • Workers: over 728 (2005)

6. The Fundación Secretariado Gitano • International cooperation: 14 countries.

7. Spain´s Education System • Integrated schooling. • Education: two types of teaching: • General Education: basic voluntary and compulsory Education. • Specialised Education: Artistic Education, Language Education, Education leading to the Sport Technician Certificate. • Adult Education: basic education for adults and vocational training.

8. Characteristics of Educational System • Integrated schooling • Compulsory Education: free of charge • Grants to defray student expenses: meals, transport, books, school material. • University scholarships. • Specific compensatory programmes(temporary measures) • Teacher´s training • Programmes targeting NGOs and other organisations.

9. UNIVERSITY Advanced Training Cycles BACHILLERATO Ages: 16-18 Academic years: 2 Intermediate Training Cycles EMPLOYMENT COMPULSORY SECONDARY EDUCATION (E.S.O) Ages: 12- 16. Professional Initiation Programs Age: 16 * 2 academic years PRIMARY EDUCATION Ages: 6-11 A.C.E.S* (Aulas de Compensación Educativa) Age: 15 PRE-SCHOOL (INFANT EDUCATION) Ages: from 0 to 5

10. The Roma Community in Spain • Sedentary • Approximately: 650,000 • 40% under the age of 16 • 45% reside in the south of Spain (Andalusia) • Heterogeneity and diversity • Identity based on a common origin and tradition, shared beliefs, values, philosophy of life and a yearning to be recognised as Roma • Fewer than 30 years: access to housing local plans • High percentage characterised by deficiencies in areas: education, housing, health care, fostering of their culture and identity.

11. Education and the Roma Community • Level of schooling of Roma Community below that of other social groups. • Illiteracy: higher in the case of women. • Repercussions: fail to take advantage of opportunities. • Enrolment of Roma children: fruit of efforts. They are reaching levels of education superior to those of their parents. • Small group going to finish high school and university (250 at university).

12. Education and the Roma Community • Difficulties: • Irregular attendance • Problems in conforming to certain routines at school. • Come to class without necessary school material. • Relations between families and schools are insufficient. • Absenteism at the age of 12-13, especially the girls.

13. Education and the Roma Community • Causes: • A large number of families fails to give the same importance to schooling. • Expectations: “Knowing how to read and write is quite enough”. • Educational is basically the responsibility of the family. • They feel that the school will fail to teach their children Roma values. • The school represents a cultural majority and a type of society that makes it difficult for ethnic minorities.

14. Education and the Roma Community • Degree of educational mainstreaming of the Roma population in Spain (Nation-wide study 2000-2001)

15. 200 60.7 % 175 150 125 Number of students 56.3 % 100 75 39.3% 50 % 50 43.7 % 36.6 50 % 25 63.4 % 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 119 58 31 15 men 77 45 31 26 women Education and the Roma Community • Educational status of Roma students at Compulsory Secondary Education

16. Roma population and employment • A comparative study (FSG 2006)