Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

Government educational policy measures aimed at increasing the inclusion of Roma children in the educational system are producing excellent results, stated Suzana Paunović, addressing those present at the awarding of certificates to pedagogical assistants. During the ceremony organized at the University of Kragujevac as part of the project “We Are Here Together – European Support for Roma Inclusion”, Paunović noted that pedagogical assistants, employed in primary schools and preschool institutions, are doing important work by providing support to children from socially vulnerable groups and Roma children, to secure continuity of quality education for them.

According to Paunović, through the work of the first mobile teams for Roma inclusion and with the full support of pedagogical assistants, 1,300 children have been enrolled in preschool institutions within a single year. This is of particular importance having in mind that previously no attention was given to preparations for education, resulting in a high drop-out rate. By applying affirmative action measures since 2003, 1,782 students and 3,438 secondary school students have been enrolled in faculties and secondary schools. A system of monitoring regular attendance and student attainments was established. In order to motivate them to continue education, an additional 1,025 scholarships were secured for Roma secondary school students during the previous two school years, noted Paunović.

European Support for Roma Inclusion is a EUR 4.8 million project financed by the European Union and implemented by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, providing support to the institutions of the Republic of Serbia in improving the status of Roma in the following areas: access to basic rights, civic participation, labour market, education, healthcare, social protection, adequate housing and job creation. The key partners of the project are the Office for Human and Minority Rights, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Roma National Council, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, NGO Praxis, Roma Education Fund, European Integration Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Source: www.ljudskaprava.gov.rs