Tirana, 15 July 2014– “Every Roma child will be enrolled in kindergarten, with or without a birth and vaccination certificate” were the words of the Minister of Education and Sport, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla who participated today at the Open Forum “Every Roma Child in the Kindergarten” organized by the Ministry of Education and Sport, UNICEF, CRCA Albania at the “Bregu i Lumit” kindergarten, at mini-municipality Nr. 11. The event is another milestone for the integration of Roma children in the public educational system, a turning point in behavioral change in terms of the reach out that institutions will do towards the Roma community, by knocking at every Roma family’s house in order to integrate Roma children in the educational system.
The aim of the forum was to raise awareness among local government and educational institutions to make the inclusion and integration of Roma children in preschool educational system a priority. It brought together representatives of public institutions, educational directorates, Ministries, civil society and international organizations, Roma community and children. The forum was opened and moderated by the inspector of the Regional Educational Directorate, Mrs. Jonida Matohiti. She said, “This meeting is organized in the framework of inclusive policies that kindergartens and schools shall follow for the integration of Roma children in pre-school education”.
In his speech, Mr. Detlef Palm, UNICEF Representative, said, “The future of a person is not determined by the time you hold a university degree in your hands. Whether you succeed in life, whether you will be able to learn, how you socialize and whether you will find a job – all of this is decided before you enter school… Teachers must stand up for the right of Roma to go kindergarten. You want to change Albania? You want to join Europe? Then stand up and make sure that Roma children are welcome in your kindergarten. Regional authorities need to actively pursue this and ask for progress”.
Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, Minister of Education and Sport, in her speech underlined “Every Roma child will be enrolled in kindergarten, with or without a birth and vaccination certificate. This does not mean they will be exempt from these obligations, but it will be the Ministries job to do so. We will not wait for Roma mothers to knock on the doors of kindergartens, educators and teachers and me that will knock on the doors of Roma families to express our dedication to the cause and the importance of participation and registration of their children in kindergarten”.
The forum was also greeted by the grandmother of one of the 11 children integrated this year by CRCA Albania in the “Bregu i Lumit” kindergarten, Mrs. Nexhmije who stressed her appreciation for the presence of the Minister in this community and among the children of Bregu i Lumit area. An educator of the kindergarten shared her 25 years of experience in this area and especially the work with mothers and grandparents in persuading them to enroll their children.
In this framework, the Ministry of Education approved on July the 21st the “Guideline for the increase of pre-school attendance of Roma children” which was delivered to all Regional Education Directorates of the country. This guideline is of paramount importance, making clear the prioritization and the added value that pre-school education has in the lives of children especially those coming from marginalized groups.
For more information, please contact:
Mersila Ballo
HRH, CRCA Albania
Tel: 0694060392
E-mail: mersila.ballo@crca.al