07.04.2015Roma teachers presented their ideas for better educational system to the Minister of Education
Discussion forum of teachers from Roma origin along with the Minister of Education and Science prof. Todor Tanev and directors of directorates in the Educational Ministry, was held on the 6th of April. The forum was organized by the Ministry of Education and Science and Center of Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” on the occasion of the Roma International Day – 8th April 9, 2015. There were 20 Roma teachers from 3 different generations, teaching in schools in Sofia and the country.
Before the forum of the teachers, children from 171st Primary school “Stoil Popov” – Sofia presented a short art program in the welcome room of the Ministry. They presented verses Usin Kerim historical data for Roma and eighth April, children's art, and other things they learn at the ECA "Ethnic Folklore - Roma folklore". The school has a low percentage of Roma students – nearly 10%, but this does not stop the students either Roma or Bulgarian to study together the Roma culture and the school to participate in the Center Amalipe “Every student can be a winner” program.
Mr. Robert Djerassi, Minister’s advisor, greeted the students and teachers. He said: “I want us to 
live together and equal, no one to feel different or unrecognized. This is the only way to be happy.” Mr. Djerassi said how much he was impressed by the meeting of the student parliaments in Sliven, where he saw 250 students - Roma, Bulgarians and Turks, create together without any prejudice. I saw the other face of the Roma community – the educated and motivated young people and this is the face I would like to see through media, he pointed out.
Deyan Kolev, chairman of CIEDT Amalipe, thanked the Ministry of Education and Science, that for the third consecutive year is a host of this kind of meeting. Eight of April is a day of the Roma awakening, the movement for equality and modernization of the Roma community, which is only as an equal part of modern Europe, he said. In times of awakening, the Education is the most important factor and with our work today teachers and educational determine the future of new generations of Roma children and youth. And that means the future of our common home - Bulgaria.
State expert from MES Dr. Yosif Nunev recalled that during the Second World War Bulgarian nation has prevented not only sending their compatriots Jews, but also Roma from the borders of the state to the gas chambers. Bulgaria is currently encountering public effect of the so-called "invisible Roma - Roma with higher educational status. This person Roma in Bulgaria is unknown, "said Dr. Nunev. He also stating that these are our compatriots who are not only higher education, but also very successful career at home and elsewhere.
The Minister of Education and Science Prof. Tanev greeted forum participants stressed that education has always favored identities. It should be a Roma - educated Roma to rediscover and reaffirm their identity. It is not only Roma know the Bulgarians, but Bulgarians know Roma culture, said Prof. Tanev.
Forum participants discussed the current issues and challenges facing the Bulgarian educational system. Inevitably they affected the draft of the Law on pre-school and school education. They agreed on several major points:
- More and more Roma boys and girls complete pedagogical faculties, but many face problems on their appointment as teachers because of tacit discrimination. Policy is needed to support the involvement of more Roma teachers: they are the true relationship between the school as an institution and the local community;
- The system of delegated school budgets penalizes smaller schools, especially those that are not focal. It is necessary to allocate more resources to them as children in the villages and small towns have a right to quality education just as much as children from big cities;
- the idea of basic education to be completed in the VII th and not in VIII grade will increase the dropout and jeopardize the quality of education in small schools: new educational law must leave VIII grade in primary schools, as well as give a chance for the formation of the united school learners to 10th grade;
- Segregation in education is a threat to the entire system. Currently active flows and called. "Secondary segregation" - the process of withdrawal of Bulgarian children from ethnically mixed schools. Urgent measures are required for ceasing this process.
Discussion forum of teachers from Roma origin along with the Minister of Education and Science prof. Todor Tanev and directors of directorates in the Educational Ministry, was held on the 6th of April. The forum was organized by the Ministry of Education and Science and Center of Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” on the occasion of the Roma International Day – 8th April 9, 2015. There were 20 Roma teachers from 3 different generations, teaching in schools in Sofia and the country.
Before the forum of the teachers, children from 171st Primary school “Stoil Popov” – Sofia presented a short art program in the welcome room of the Ministry. They presented verses Usin Kerim historical data for Roma and eighth April, children's art, and other things they learn at the ECA "Ethnic Folklore - Roma folklore". The school has a low percentage of Roma students – nearly 10%, but this does not stop the students either Roma or Bulgarian to study together the Roma culture and the school to participate in the Center Amalipe “Every student can be a winner” program.
Mr. Robert Djerassi, Minister’s advisor, greeted the students and teachers. He said: “I want us to live together and equal, no one to feel different or unrecognized. This is the only way to be happy.” Mr. Djerassi said how much he was impressed by the meeting of the student parliaments in Sliven, where he saw 250 students - Roma, Bulgarians and Turks, create together without any prejudice. I saw the other face of the Roma community – the educated and motivated young people and this is the face I would like to see through media, he pointed out.
Deyan Kolev, chairman of CIEDT Amalipe, thanked the Ministry of Education and Science, that for the third consecutive year is a host of this kind of meeting. Eight of April is a day of the Roma awakening, the movement for equality and modernization of the Roma community, which is only as an equal part of modern Europe, he said. In times of awakening, the Education is the most important factor and with our work today teachers and educational determine the future of new generations of Roma children and youth. And that means the future of our common home - Bulgaria.
State expert from MES Dr. Yosif Nunev recalled that during the Second World War Bulgarian nation has prevented not only sending their compatriots Jews, but also Roma from the borders of the state to the gas chambers. Bulgaria is currently encountering public effect of the so-called "invisible Roma - Roma with higher educational status. This person Roma in Bulgaria is unknown, "said Dr. Nunev. He also stating that these are our compatriots who are not only higher education, but also very successful career at home and elsewhere.
The Minister of Education and Science Prof. Tanev greeted forum participants stressed that education has always favored identities. It should be a Roma - educated Roma to rediscover and reaffirm their identity. It is not only Roma know the Bulgarians, but Bulgarians know Roma culture, said Prof. Tanev.
Forum participants discussed the current issues and challenges facing the Bulgarian educational system. Inevitably they affected the draft of the Law on pre-school and school education. They agreed on several major points:
- More and more Roma boys and girls complete pedagogical faculties, but many face problems on their appointment as teachers because of tacit discrimination. Policy is needed to support the involvement of more Roma teachers: they are the true relationship between the school as an institution and the local community;
- The system of delegated school budgets penalizes smaller schools, especially those that are not focal. It is necessary to allocate more resources to them as children in the villages and small towns have a right to quality education just as much as children from big cities;
- the idea of basic education to be completed in the VII th and not in VIII grade will increase the dropout and jeopardize the quality of education in small schools: new educational law must leave VIII grade in primary schools, as well as give a chance for the formation of the united school learners to 10th grade;
- Segregation in education is a threat to the entire system. Currently active flows and called. "Secondary segregation" - the process of withdrawal of Bulgarian children from ethnically mixed schools. Urgent measures are required for ceasing this process.
