Strasbourg, April 21 st 2015 How can regions ensure equal access to education and health to Roma people?

BASIC INFO ABOUT ROMA IN SERBIA: 600 ROMA SETTLEMENTS / ROMA 45% SLUMS 30% NO WATER 30% NO ELECTRICITY 0,02 % UNIVERSITY DEGREE 47 % FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE 80% UNEMPLOYED 60 % USE SOCIAL BENEFITS 48 YEARS AVERAGE LIVING SERBIA = DECADE OF ROMA INCLUSION (2005 – 2015) NATIONAL STRATEGY TO IMPROVE POSITION OF ROMA IN SERBIA (2009) REVISION OF THE ROMA STRATEGY and 13 ACTION PLANS (2012/2013) STATE DEPENDENT ON FUNDING FROM INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES

Education of Roma in Vojvodina How Vojvodina ensured equal access to education to Roma

In 2006, the Assembly of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina established “Roma Inclusion Office” with a goal to improve living of Roma population in the areas of education, employment, housing, health, human rights and minority rights. Since 2010, on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the persons belonging to Roma national community have opportunity to acquire education in their mother tongue at the University level - „Mihailo Palov“ Preschool Teacher Training College in Vršac, the Preschool Teacher Study Group Benefits for students Free scholarships students dormitories

All activities related to education of persons belonging to Roma national community have been promoted by the Government of the AP Vojvodina via printed and electronic media We supported the initiative of the Roma Education Centre from Subotica to establish the Roma Children Inclusive Education Support Team in the territory of the Sombor School Authority Government of Vojvodina, the School Authorities of Sombor, Novi Sad and Zrenjanin, together with the Roma Inclusion Office and Roma Education Centre from Subotica signed the Protocol of Joint Actions and Cooperation in the Field of Education of Roma Children in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina School yearPrimarySecondaryUniversity 2006/ / *tbc

AP Vojvodina also financially supported projects … and activities implemented by the educational institutions or non- governmental organisations, which contribute to inclusion of Roma students into formal education system as well as their staying within that system : procurement of textbooks, school meals expenses, one-day trips, participation in school music competitions, Additional teaching lessons in Serbian and Maths, summer education camps, functional literacy of young Romas who dropped out school, seminars for the teachers of Roma language with elements of national culture, after-school day care, kindergarten assistants, single financial assistance for Roma students to co-finance education costs, Co-funding the publishing of books concerned with the Roma tradition and culture etc.

project: INCLUSION OF ROMA STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE AP OF VOJVODINA Aim of the project was to: -increase a number of Roma students who enroll in and complete secondary schools -increase a number of students enrolling in the four-year secondary schools -improve their general achievement record through the secondary education -increase the number of students continuing their education at the faculty and colleges of vocational studies

Project components : Student scholarships (provision of financial support to around 860 Roma students, who attended formal secondary schools in the territory of the APV in the period ) Mentorship for students (provision of mentor teachers for scholarship holders) Additional education for mentor teachers Monitoring of mentors’ work Accreditation of mentorship seminars by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia Publication of the “Mentors’ Guide” brochure Organisation of discussion panels in primary and secondary schools; promotion of education undertaken by the Roma Students’ Association throughout the entire project along with promotion of successful young Roma Foreign language courses, including promotion of successful young Roma students Girls’ summer camp Complimentary excursion and awards for the best students Provision of funds for the continued education in four-year secondary schools Career guidance (visit to faculties and colleges) Media visibility of the project

Network of secondary schools in the AP of Vojvodina involved in the project 121 SECONDARY SCHOOLS 84 SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT 69,42% of all schools on the territory of AP Vojvodina First part of the project costs: EUR Second part of the project costs: USD

Mentorship program The mentor’s role was to provide assistance and support to students in their Individual development of learning skills (pedagogical role), to work on optimum integration of students in their closer and wider environmen (social role), as well as to exchange information, counsel, familiarise with students and his/her personal concerns (psychological role) and if necessary, provide the student with additional teaching content. МENTOR Parents Student Monitoring team Teaching staff

Provision of scholarships to Roma secondary school students has continued in Republic of Serbia for the school year 2014/2015 with the support of Roma Education Fund and in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to the Republic of Serbia and the Republic Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, within the project „Теchnical Support to Roma Inclusion“, which is financed from the EU funds. Inclusion of children into the formal education system from the early preschool age Increase the number of children involved in obligatory preeschool education Financial support to children and students (scholarships, transport costs, textbooks, accommodation....) Provision of additional support in the form of mentorship by Roma/pedagogical/personal assistants Additional education of the teaching staff Strengthening of parent competencies Creating conditions for functional literacy and training of young people, but also parents, who dropped out of the system of formal education Further actions.....

Health care for Roma in Serbia / Vojvodina NGO’s and Government of AP Vojvodina have supported numerous projects that help develop better living conditions for children and their families in wild settlements

Before After

Health issues from a Roma girl point of view… According to the UNICEF survey with multiple indicators from 2011 (for Serbia), 14% of Roma girls aged from 15 to 19 were married before the age of 15 and one-third gave a birth to their first child before their 18th birthday. „I gave a birth to the first child when I was 16, the second with 17 and the third with 22. Between the second and third child I had five miscarriages."

Instead of conclusions: Even though State and NGO’s are doing good work in keeping Roma children in school system, their tradition is keeping some of them out of schools. Increased discrimination of Roma children in educational system (majority population takes their children out of schools in which Roma children make majority of students) teachers, school staff does not value equally efforts and work of Roma children economical problems of Socialization (poverty)

What we as Regions can do Is to support education To speak to parents To include entire community in dialogue To make joint plans To financially support families who educate children To support young people who want to continue their studies

Thank you for your attention Ana Tomanova Makanova Vice-president the Assembly of AP of Vojvodina