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Experts in charge of educational integration in 24 regional inspectorates of education from all over the country met to discuss the new Public Education Act, how it can help the educational integration of Roma children and the  successful examples in this direction. The event was held in Vratsa fro May 2 to 4 . It was organized by Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance Amalipe and Ministry of Education, Youth and Science. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Milena Damianova and the advisor for school integration in of the political cabinet Prof. Irina Koleva.

During the first day the experts discussed the successful examples of effective retention of Roma children in classrooms. Among them stood the program "Reducing the dropout of Roma students from the School” of Center Amalipe, which is implemented in 34 schools during this school year. Our team briefed them on overall idea of ​​the project, as well as activities set in schools and program participants during the first year. We discussed effective methods of keeping children in classrooms. They were presented by teachers and school principals from Vratsa Region  (Evgeni Angelov, director of NU "Hr.Smirnenski" Byala Slatina, Dimitar Kostov, Director of School St.Kl.Ohridski, village Tishevitsa) who practically explained the relationship between mentoring and pilot schools, the methods they apply in their schools, how they can be adapted to other schools.

From them we can highlight some major successful elements, such as: introduction of Roma folklore elective subject, creating a school parliament, the formation of an active parent club, individual work with students at risk of dropping out (including by determining the classmate - mentor), monthly training for all teachers for successful work with Roma pupils (implemented by their colleagues - teachers from mentoring schools). We have a comprehensive model of successful integration, which completely changed our schools, concluded the school principals. Teodora Krumova supported them with numbers showing that during the first semester in the project schools dropout rates were lower than 0.5% that is significantly lower compared to the previous year.

During the second day of the seminar we  visited several schools in the area to introduce the participants to practical

achievements in schools and to discuss the future Public Education Act. Deputy Minister Damyanova joint us and saw the life of the Primary school "Hristo Botev" in the  village of Banica and "St. Kliment Ohridski” Primary School of Tishevitsa village.

The School of "Hristo Botev" from the village of Banitsa introduced us their implementation of the elective subject "Folklore of the Ethnoi - Roma folklore". We felt the spirit and innovative ideas on the Roma children, overseeing the work of their School Students Board and also the Facebook group that is established by them. From the assembled parents we knew about parent’s club and newly registered school board of

trustees. These activities have occurred in the school, thanks to the participation in the program for keeping Roma children in classrooms.

The school in the village of Banitsa participates in the program as a pilot school, having problems with effective retention of students. In the end of the first year of its participation in this program, "Hristo Botev" school can boast of no drop-outs and only two children at risk of dropping out. "In the beginning the school faced serious difficulties because part of the students is traveling from 4 surrounding villages and the connection with their parents was difficult, said Director T. Tonchovska. Substantial changes are evident in school life owing to collaboration with mentoring school of Tishevitsa.

Our tour continued with a visit of "Kliment Ohridski” school in the village of Tishevitsa involved in the project as a mentoring

school, with proven best practices in retention of Roma students. As usually the school did not disappoint us. We were greeted by a group of students participating in the  "Roma folklore" subject who surprised us with an art performance of St. George's Day. After the program, Deputy Minister Milena

Damianova and Deyan Kolev, Chairman of Center Amalipe met with Roma parents to hear their views on the status of education and in particular the national policy of educational integration. Many interesting questions were brought up which Deputy Minister Damyanova gladly answered,

because as she mentioned: "Every of us is a parent, every parent must be able to directly participate and engage with the education of his/her child. The need to hear the views of parents in different cities is growing so through that educational changes will actually be attributed to the existing situation.

Then experts and Deputy Minister Damyanova discussed the concept of new Law of School education and educational integration of Roma children. It was the view that the concept includes texts which promote the transformation of educational integration in national policy: e.g. by setting standard for intetrcultural education by providing opportunities for additional funding to schools through the implementation of school programs for educational integration, etc. These texts were included due to the activity of Roma organizations and must be developed in the text of the Law.

In the last day of our meeting we visited "Vasil Levski” school in the Village of Vidrare located in Sofia district. The school is involved in the Program for decreasing dropout of Roma pupils as a pilot one. Its director Mrs. Maya Pencheva, introduced us  the results achieved so far. We met with the children participating in the Students board and active parents from the parent’s club. The situation in the village of Vidrare is special in terms that they are a focal-point school that gathers students from several villages, some of which are more than 10 km away. However, the school manages to maintain an active connection and positive relations with parents. A proof of that is the high number of Roma parents taking part in the organization of holidays, extracurricular activities, and regular meetings of the parent’s club. In the end of the first year primary school "Vasil

Levski" decreased twice absenteeism, which is an indicator

of increased commitment of both children and parents.

What we can say ... a summary picture of the last seminar was full of emotions, travels and meetings with wonderful children and their dreams which we all work for. Because I know that you dear reader will agree that whatever we write in the Public Education Act, in thick books or white boards, it would worth nothing if it is not implemented, if it is not given with spirit and attention to every child!
Here are impressions of Mrs. Angelina Ivanova, expert at Regional Inspectorate of Education - Lovech: "I congratulate you for the wonderful way you work, thank you for the pleasure to see the results of your work. I express my gratitude for the opportunity to see and learn so many things. I wish you to

keep all those qualities that you have and that you constantly present at all

levels, before any “audience”.