CVEK

The main goal of the project has been based on qualitative empirical research to evaluate the current public policy measures aimed to improve the education of Roma children in terms of their inclusiveness. This meant to assess to what extend the measures enable full and equal opportunities for Roma children to participate in the educational process without endangering their own cultural identity. Based on the research CVEK research team had an ambition to formulate recommendations to improve existing policies and if necessary to suggest alternative tools, which would support the inclusive education of Roma children and prevent systematic exclusion of Roma children from mainstream education.

CVEK´s project focused on two basic types of measures: pedagogical measures (especially teaching assistants, zero grade, individual integration), and financial measures (e.g. subsidies for food and school supplies, motivational scholarships, etc.) from a so far unexamined perspective – inclusive education, which respects the social disadvantages and also cultural differences. CVEK monitored the extent to which these programs help the Roma children in being able to fully participate in school without having to assimilate and to give up their identities. CVEK focused on the examination of the extent and if at all the educational system bears the burden of the process of inclusion. In the center of a CVEK´s concern therefore was whether the school is adapted to the needs of Roma children, or if only the adaptation of the minority into the existing structures is expected.