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On July 11, 12, 13 hotel "SPS" Plovdiv Amalipe organized a workshop for directors of schools in the Southeastern and Southwestern Bulgaria, willing to participate in the program for dropout prevention Roma pupils from school during the school year 2012/2013.

The project is a 3-year program which is being realized by Amalipe Center with the support of America for Bulgaria Foundation. Project’s main goal is to decrease the school dropout of Roma children on age when they are obliged by the law to visit school. Project activities are directed on solving the problem of the many absences, the low grades in class, the law percentage of Roma who are continuing their education on a secondary level (high schools), the non-participation of Roma parents in the school-life and in the school management structures.

The meeting was attended with great interest and friendly atmosphere. During the meetings principals were familiarized with the program and its pedagogical conception. There were discussed the main reasons for the early dropouts of schools and how they could be overcome by special pedagogical means. Principals who are part of the program shared experience and good pedagogical practices for attracting and keeping children at school. The meeting was also attended by Teodora Krumova - Deputy Chair of Amalipe who presented to the audience the pedagogical concept of the program for dropout prevention, the program’s structure, principle and activities. Tanya Vanova presented an analysis of the results from the last years of those schools that are part of the project. The main conclusion from the analysis that was made is that in schools, worked on the program last year was significantly decreased as absenteeism of students and number of dropouts from school. As activity that increases motivation for learning and attendance of students in the school was referred the EPA "Ethnic Folklore-Roma folklore". Many teachers talked about the many successful activities, sports competitions, quizzes, literary competitions, educational tours and more. The meeting concluded with a discussion of the structure of the program next year as well as activities that will be embedded in it.

"Thank you for the opportunity to be among the supporters and friends with whom to share ideas and practices. After heavy and intense, filled with many changes year, our meeting loaded with energy and optimism. It is our pleasure to work with such a young and glamorous team "- Bistra Stoykova, director of school" Neophyte Rilski "Dupnitsa.

Also there were presented the results from the first two years of implementation of ‘Reducing the dropout rate of Roma children’. Most interesting were the results of those schools that are part of the project from its very beginning. In these schools, the dropout rate was reduced to 0.36 percent drop compared with 0.65 percent drop in first year of the project, before starting work on this project% drop in these schools was 2.04. During the academic year 2010/2011, the project is implemented in 34 schools in 2011/2012 - in 90 schools and plans for 2012/2013 are to reach 180 schools.

The results of the first year indicate that dropouts in the project schools are minimized, especially for children visiting the EPA "Ethnic Folklore - Roma folklore" absenteeism fell to 18.35 per pupil compared with 40, 66 the first year of the project.  There on the meeting were considered the strengths and weaknesses of each school, and their development opportunities and dangers on the basis of which any representative of the school prepare its school program for dropout prevention. According to the majority of participants in the meeting this session was most valuable and most useful for schools. In a very interesting way were presented the main activities of the project. Principals who are part of the program form a long time presented and told about the strengths regarding the work with children, attracting parents and their involvement in the active school life, work with the teachers and the most favorite – exchange visit between the schools and sharing of experience. 

We are happy that the entire participant who came for first time on such a work meeting with little fluctuations and uncertainty left the meeting satisfied and loaded.

‘I am happy for the new information I gained and for the shared experience – we have what to take in order our involvement in the project to be successful ’, said E. Yordanova, principal of ‘Hristo Botev’ Elementary School.

Thank you for your fruitful work, many smiles and great friendships. Let us continue to conquer new heights!

Amalipe team