11.10.2011Meeting of the Board of the Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities (CEICPEM)
On 7 October was held meeting of the Board of the Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities (CEICPEM). It was attended by Deputy Minister - M. Damyanova, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education - Krassimir Valchev, executive director of the Social Assistance Agency - Ivaylo Ivanov, Deputy Director Yanita Manolova, members of the Board. The conference was also attended bymembers of the civic organizations quota - Prof. Irina Koleva Rumyan Sechkov (SEGA Foundation) and Deyan Kolev(Amalipe).
The main discussed topic was how to optimize the government's policy to reduce unexcused absences and students dropping out of school. Following decisions were taken:
1. Will be formed a joint team of Ministry of Education and ASP, and regional and local level teams to monitor cases of dropping out risk and they will plan joint activities for reduction the risk;
2. Ministry of Education is going to require - through the new School Education Act and by regulations –every school to make its own Dropout Reduction School Program;
3. CEICPEM will put as a condition for projects application each school to have an approved school programs for dropout prevention;
4. Ministry of Education will fund through national program the implementation of school- program activities, where students allowed unexcused absences average is above the average for the country. Such national pilot program will be introduced from 2012.
Into questions response, the Secretary Krassimir Valchev statedthat currently is going on a discussion about the restructuring of municipalities groups by setting unified standards, which will lead to higher funding of schools in rural areas that are not focal or protected –on this stage those are schools which were in most non-additional funding after the implementation of delegated budgets. Mr. Valchev has also committed to see what are the opportunities for funding transportation for students in grade 9 and 10 from regions without high schools. According to Deyan Kolev this measure will increase rates of Roma youngsters from the villages with a complete secondary education.
