Roma and equal Access to Education Roma and equal Access to Education From segregation to integrated schooling Brussels, April

Content 1.The Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) 2.Spain’s Education System 3.Education and the Roma Community in Spain

The Fundación Secretariado Gitano  Non-profit inter-cultural social organisation  Mission: the social advancement of the Roma community based on respect for cultural identity.  Activity:  Provision of services to the Roma community  Training, counselling, awareness-heightening

The Fundación Secretariado Gitano  Direct beneficiaries of our actions (2005): 70,000  Work centres throughout Spain: 60

The Fundación Secretariado Gitano  Workers: over 728 (2005)

The Fundación Secretariado Gitano  International cooperation: 14 countries.

Spain´s Education System  Integrated schooling.  Education: two types of teaching:  General Education: basic voluntary and compulsory Education.  Specialised Education: Artistic Education, Language Education, Education leading to the Sport Technician Certificate.  Adult Education: basic education for adults and vocational training.

Characteristics of Educational System  Integrated schooling  Compulsory Education: free of charge  Grants to defray student expenses: meals, transport, books, school material.  University scholarships.  Specific compensatory programmes (temporary measures)  Teacher´s training  Programmes targeting NGOs and other organisations.

PRE-SCHOOL (INFANT EDUCATION) Ages: from 0 to 5 PRIMARY EDUCATION Ages: 6-11 COMPULSORY SECONDARY EDUCATION (E.S.O) Ages: BACHILLERATO Ages: Academic years: 2 UNIVERSITY A.C.E.S* (Aulas de Compensación Educativa) Age: 15 Professional Initiation Programs Age: 16 * 2 academic years Intermediate Training Cycles Advanced Training Cycles EMPLOYMENT

The Roma Community in Spain  Sedentary  Approximately: 650,000  40% under the age of 16  45% reside in the south of Spain (Andalusia)  Heterogeneity and diversity  Identity based on a common origin and tradition, shared beliefs, values, philosophy of life and a yearning to be recognised as Roma  Fewer than 30 years: access to housing local plans  High percentage characterised by deficiencies in areas: education, housing, health care, fostering of their culture and identity.

Education and the Roma Community  Level of schooling of Roma Community below that of other social groups.  Illiteracy: higher in the case of women.  Repercussions: fail to take advantage of opportunities.  Enrolment of Roma children: fruit of efforts. They are reaching levels of education superior to those of their parents.  Small group going to finish high school and university (250 at university).

Education and the Roma Community  Difficulties:  Irregular attendance  Problems in conforming to certain routines at school.  Come to class without necessary school material.  Relations between families and schools are insufficient.  Absenteism at the age of 12-13, especially the girls.

Education and the Roma Community  Causes:  A large number of families fails to give the same importance to schooling.  Expectations: “Knowing how to read and write is quite enough”.  Educational is basically the responsibility of the family.  They feel that the school will fail to teach their children Roma values.  The school represents a cultural majority and a type of society that makes it difficult for ethnic minorities.

Education and the Roma Community  Degree of educational mainstreaming of the Roma population in Spain (Nation-wide study )

Education and the Roma Community  Educational status of Roma students at Compulsory Secondary Education 39.3 % 43.7 % 50 % 63.4 % 60.7 % 56.3 % 50 % Number of students men women st2nd3rd4th

Roma population and employment  A comparative study (FSG 2006)