The Process ofThe Process of Desegregation in the Desegregation in the Education in BulgariaEducation in Bulgaria

Iossif Nounev, Ph.D.Iossif Nounev, Ph.D.

State Expert at the Ministry of Education State Expert at the Ministry of Education and Scienceand Science

I. The educational situation with the Roma children at I. The educational situation with the Roma children at the present moment in Bulgariathe present moment in Bulgaria

The laws in the Republic of Bulgaria, including the Public Education Act The laws in the Republic of Bulgaria, including the Public Education Act (PEA), ensure equal access for all children to education regardless of ethnic (PEA), ensure equal access for all children to education regardless of ethnic identity, religion or sex.identity, religion or sex.

In the segregated Roma neighbourhoods throughout the country 65 schools In the segregated Roma neighbourhoods throughout the country 65 schools at different levels and 24 kindergartens are currently functioning, in which at different levels and 24 kindergartens are currently functioning, in which Roma children from these neighbourhoods are educated. Roma children from these neighbourhoods are educated.

During the 2004/2005 school year, the system of public education During the 2004/2005 school year, the system of public education encompassed a total 970,000 pupils from the first preparatory class to 12th encompassed a total 970,000 pupils from the first preparatory class to 12th grade.grade.

TThe total percentage of Roma children encompassed in school at he total percentage of Roma children encompassed in school at the said age is around 10%, which means about 100,000 children. the said age is around 10%, which means about 100,000 children.

During the 2004/2005 school year a total 30,421 children and pupils During the 2004/2005 school year a total 30,421 children and pupils of Roma origin are taught in kindergartens and schoolsof Roma origin are taught in kindergartens and schools. . Of these, Of these, 2,464 are children in 24 kindergartens, and the remaining 27,957 2,464 are children in 24 kindergartens, and the remaining 27,957 are pupils in 65 schools at different levels.are pupils in 65 schools at different levels.

Some 45,000 Roma children are attending ethnically mixed schools Some 45,000 Roma children are attending ethnically mixed schools in the rural regions, in which there are single schools.in the rural regions, in which there are single schools.

The remaining 25,000 to 30,000 Roma children attend ethnically The remaining 25,000 to 30,000 Roma children attend ethnically mixed schools in the larger settlements and descend from families mixed schools in the larger settlements and descend from families that are well integrated in Bulgarian society. They are not in need of that are well integrated in Bulgarian society. They are not in need of special integrating measures.special integrating measures.

II. Political and administrative steps of the Bulgarian II. Political and administrative steps of the Bulgarian state for solving the problem of segregation in the state for solving the problem of segregation in the

education of Roma childreneducation of Roma children

The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) has taken the The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) has taken the following measures:following measures:

1. The MES has developed and adopted a long-term strategy and 1. The MES has developed and adopted a long-term strategy and action plan for the gradual and complete elimination of segregated action plan for the gradual and complete elimination of segregated schools in the Roma neighbourhoods.schools in the Roma neighbourhoods.

2. 2. The compulsory division into districts for children at enrolment in The compulsory division into districts for children at enrolment in school was eliminated. school was eliminated.

3. 3. It was It was introduced compulsory one-year preparatory pre-school introduced compulsory one-year preparatory pre-school training at kindergartens or schools for all children before enrolling training at kindergartens or schools for all children before enrolling in first grade.in first grade.

4. 4. Early vocational training was eliminated and Roma children, just Early vocational training was eliminated and Roma children, just like all the rest, are taught according to uniform general education like all the rest, are taught according to uniform general education programmes.programmes.

5. In the segregated schools teachers without the necessary 5. In the segregated schools teachers without the necessary educational qualifications were removed.educational qualifications were removed.

6. 6. The kindergartens and schools with a segregation problem and The kindergartens and schools with a segregation problem and subject to desegregation were identified.subject to desegregation were identified.

7. Receiving schools outside the Roma neighbourhoods in which 7. Receiving schools outside the Roma neighbourhoods in which Roma children are gradually being placed were identified.Roma children are gradually being placed were identified.

8. 8. The MES developed and presented to the municipalities The MES developed and presented to the municipalities recommended models for the desegregation of separate schools for recommended models for the desegregation of separate schools for Roma children in the Roma neighbourhoodsRoma children in the Roma neighbourhoods

..

9. 9. The municipalities were obliged to develop their own plans for the The municipalities were obliged to develop their own plans for the gradual taking out of Roma children from the position of segregation gradual taking out of Roma children from the position of segregation and situating them in mixed schools outside the Roma and situating them in mixed schools outside the Roma neighbourhoods.neighbourhoods.

10. The full actual closing of segregated schools with Roma children 10. The full actual closing of segregated schools with Roma children was launched. First in this respect was the regional centre Pleven.was launched. First in this respect was the regional centre Pleven.

11. The regional education inspectorates selected their own experts 11. The regional education inspectorates selected their own experts to directly deal with the integration of the Roma children.to directly deal with the integration of the Roma children.

12. The MES and REI directly consult the mayors and 12. The MES and REI directly consult the mayors and representatives of the municipal authorities that lag behind in the representatives of the municipal authorities that lag behind in the implementation of state policy and for observance of the Protection implementation of state policy and for observance of the Protection against Discrimination Act [Article 29 (1)].against Discrimination Act [Article 29 (1)].

13. 13. The specially trained so-called “assistant teacher” from the Roma The specially trained so-called “assistant teacher” from the Roma community, who aids the easier adaptation of the Roma children in the community, who aids the easier adaptation of the Roma children in the mixed school, was introduced in the education system.mixed school, was introduced in the education system.

14. All children in preparatory classes at kindergartens or schools through to 14. All children in preparatory classes at kindergartens or schools through to fourth grade receive free textbooks and free meals at school.fourth grade receive free textbooks and free meals at school.

15. At the end of 2003, the National Assembly adopted the 15. At the end of 2003, the National Assembly adopted the Protection Protection against Discrimination Actagainst Discrimination Act..

16. 16. The universities, which train teachers, introduced in their training The universities, which train teachers, introduced in their training programmes at the level of Bachelor and Master courses on programmes at the level of Bachelor and Master courses on intercultural education with a focus on the adaptation of the Roma intercultural education with a focus on the adaptation of the Roma children in a mixed school environment. At the Veliko Turnovo children in a mixed school environment. At the Veliko Turnovo University, the speciality “Primary Pedagogic with the Roma University, the speciality “Primary Pedagogic with the Roma Language”, for training teachers in their Roma mother tongue, has Language”, for training teachers in their Roma mother tongue, has been functioning for the third year now.been functioning for the third year now.

17. 17. With decree No. 4/11.01.2005 of the Council of Ministers, With decree No. 4/11.01.2005 of the Council of Ministers, with the MES was created a Centre for Educational Integration with the MES was created a Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethic Minorities, whose main aim of Children and Pupils from Ethic Minorities, whose main aim is to accumulate funds from foreign and Bulgarian donors and is to accumulate funds from foreign and Bulgarian donors and with money from the state budget to assist the municipalities with money from the state budget to assist the municipalities and non-profit organisations in the desegregation of Roma and non-profit organisations in the desegregation of Roma education. Unfortunately, the adoption was delayed of the education. Unfortunately, the adoption was delayed of the decree for its organisational rules, which the MES developed decree for its organisational rules, which the MES developed and presented to the Council of Ministers. It is expected to be and presented to the Council of Ministers. It is expected to be adopted by the end of May 2006 and for the Centre to start adopted by the end of May 2006 and for the Centre to start functioning in June. For its work until the end of the current functioning in June. For its work until the end of the current financial year the MES has allocated 500,000 leva from its financial year the MES has allocated 500,000 leva from its budget.budget.

III. Results of the implementation of the Strategy for III. Results of the implementation of the Strategy for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from

Ethic MinoritiesEthic Minorities 1. 1. A process of desegregation of schools for Roma children in Vidin, A process of desegregation of schools for Roma children in Vidin, Stara Zagora, Montana, Pleven, Sofia, Plovdiv, Sliven, Haskovo and Stara Zagora, Montana, Pleven, Sofia, Plovdiv, Sliven, Haskovo and other towns across the country other towns across the country is functioning at this moment is functioning at this moment . More . More than 3,500 children of Roma origin were actually taken out of than 3,500 children of Roma origin were actually taken out of segregated schools and placed together with their Bulgarian peers segregated schools and placed together with their Bulgarian peers to study in mixed schools.to study in mixed schools.

2. A2. A total 106 assistant teachers aid the educational integration of total 106 assistant teachers aid the educational integration of the Roma children in general education schools.the Roma children in general education schools.3. Over 2,000 teachers have undergone various forms of training for 3. Over 2,000 teachers have undergone various forms of training for work with Roma children for their adaptation in an ethnically mixed work with Roma children for their adaptation in an ethnically mixed environment.environment.

4. 4. A deputy minister (Ms Mukaddes Nalbant) has been appointed in A deputy minister (Ms Mukaddes Nalbant) has been appointed in the MES to deal especially with the educational integration of the MES to deal especially with the educational integration of children and pupils from ethnic minorities, including the process of children and pupils from ethnic minorities, including the process of desegregation.desegregation.

5. There is a specialised directorate in the MES whose employees 5. There is a specialised directorate in the MES whose employees work on the integration of children and pupils from ethnic minorities.work on the integration of children and pupils from ethnic minorities.

IV. Partnership of the Ministry of Education with non-IV. Partnership of the Ministry of Education with non-governmental organisations.governmental organisations.

Already in 2003 the MES created with its minister the so-called Already in 2003 the MES created with its minister the so-called Consultative Council on Education of Children and Pupils from Consultative Council on Education of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities. Ethnic Minorities.

The main task of this Council is to develop and propose to the The main task of this Council is to develop and propose to the Minister of Education and Science drafts for documents and Minister of Education and Science drafts for documents and decisions in the area of educational integration of children and decisions in the area of educational integration of children and pupils from ethic minorities with a focus on the Roma.pupils from ethic minorities with a focus on the Roma.

The partnership with the civic organisations in the Consultative The partnership with the civic organisations in the Consultative Council is one of the most successful practices of the MES in the Council is one of the most successful practices of the MES in the direction of providing an opportunity to these organisations to take direction of providing an opportunity to these organisations to take part in the planning and taking of decisions which concern the whole part in the planning and taking of decisions which concern the whole of society.of society.