The Project "Equal Opportunities"

The project's aim is the improvement of the difficult situation the Rroma children in Romania have to cope with by implementing a school development module, facilitating institutional exchange, and stimulating both Rroma pupils and their parents to involve in the school life.

The strategy adopted by the initiators of the project - Netherlands Institute for Curriculum and Center Education 2000+ - is focused on institutional exchange stimulation and full support for actions taken in adapting the school configuration so as to fit parents and children needs. The target group includes Rroma children and their families living in 15 Romanian counties, the project being implemented in 55 schools. In the first year, funds were alloted to 27 schools - institutions that have already taken part in the last "Equal Opportunities" Project - in accordance with the development project. A broadening of the program activities was accomplished the next year.

The project's main task is to adapt the existing educational offer to meet the Rroma children and parents needs by setting out coherent strategies for school development and by promoting training activities for the professorial staff in various relevant fields, such as class management, cross-curricular themes, remedial education, intercultural education, Rromani culture, parents involvement, and school management.

"Equal Opportunities" team is assisting and supporting the initiatives coming from the network schools aiming to promote the program values and ideas and is disseminating all the successful experiences that can be easily implemented on a larger scale.

The promoted pattern underpins the awareness and acknowledgement of ethnic identity and differences (by children, parents, professors), and the educational and social uplifts of the Rroma children included in the program.

The program network includes: